Category: Articles and News

When Heathrow Airport suddenly lost power this spring, it wasn’t the result of a cyberattack or a storm. A fire at a nearby National Grid substation caused the blackout. Within minutes, one of the world’s busiest airports had to suspend operations. The cause was rare, but the consequences were not. Flights were grounded, passengers stranded, and entire teams suddenly needed to make fast, high-stakes decisions with limited information. An independent review later found that while Heathrow had contingency plans, it still faced major challenges: Overreliance on a single power source. Gaps in rapid coordination. Delayed communication between key teams. The lesson here isn’t just about having plans. It’s about being able to act – together, quickly, and with clarity – when those plans meet reality. The same challenge everywhere Maybe you don’t run an airport, but your organization faces similar risks every day. Power cuts, system failures, threats, or weather

Digital communication now forms the backbone of school operations. Staff hold meetings via Microsoft Teams, share updates in WhatsApp groups, and collaborate across Multi-Academy Trusts (MAT) in cross-school Slack channels. For most teams, these digital tools have transformed efficiency and productivity. But when the unexpected happens – a safeguarding concern arises, a lockdown needs to be implemented, or a severe weather closure takes effect – these same tools can quickly become a liability instead. In moments where every second counts, the limitations of everyday messaging platforms can delay vital decisions, create confusion, and even compromise safety. Here at Cosafe, we’ve drawn on insights from hundreds of our UK and European education partners to outline five critical reasons why Teams, Slack, and WhatsApp simply aren’t designed for crisis communication – and what educational establishments can do instead to overcome these pitfalls. Here are five reasons schools should reconsider everyday apps: 1.

In Tes Magazine, Professor Michael Green explains how the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law, will introduce new duties for schools, centered on planning, communication and preparedness rather than physical barriers. “The emphasis is on planning, awareness and cultural readiness, rather than fences and barriers.” “Preparedness is not only a matter of compliance; it is also about building institutional resilience.” Most schools will fall under the standard tier and must: Appoint a responsible person Notify the regulator (SIA) Maintain and document evacuation, invacuation and lockdown plans Train staff, test procedures and ensure clear communication during a crisis It’s a reminder that safeguarding, health and safety, crisis response and communication need to work together, not as separate systems. This aligns closely with lessons learned in Sweden, where several tragic school attacks led to a national focus on systematic school safety. Today, Cosafe supports over half of Sweden’s municipalities