An Insurer’s Coming to Survey My School. What Now?

But what does a survey entail? And what does that mean for you? Emma Butcher, Head of Education at Towergate, joined our partners at Pearson Webb Consulting on The Safer Schools Podcast to discuss.

Why do insurers conduct surveys?

A survey is effectively a review your insurer conducts to make sure the information they have on your school is correct and up to date. They might perform this survey in-person or virtually.

What are they looking for?

According to Emma, an insurer survey will be looking at three key areas:

• Liability (employees, pupils and members of the public, risk management and health and safety)
• Property (fire and security)
• Business interruption

This insurer’s findings will then be collated into a report, which they’ll share with your broker and you.

Requirements and recommendations

Don’t think of your school as a passive party to the survey; instead, you’ll form an active part of the process while the insurer conducts the survey. After the survey, the insurer will discuss any recommendations and requirements identified.

While recommendations are merely nice-to-haves, any requirements the insurer makes must be actioned for compliance purposes. The insurer will let you know of any requirements at the time of the survey as well as in their report afterwards, and any deadlines they’ve prescribed. This could be 30 days, 60 days, or another timescale, depending on what the requirement is.

If you have a problem with the insurer’s findings

If you have a sincere issue with the findings in your insurer’s survey report, don’t feel you can’t contest them. “There have been instances where there have been risk requirements which in our view have been a little off,” Adam Webb of Pearson Webb Consulting says.

If this is the case, let your broker know so they can fight your corner. Additionally, if you’ve been given requirements and feel the deadlines given are unachievable, this is usually something that can be amended..

Listen to the full episode of The Safer Schools Podcast here. The Safe Schools Podcast - The Link Between Health & Safety Compliance and Insurance

Our partners at Pearson Webb Consulting Ltd are experts in the provision of risk assessments and health and safety assessments and training. Simply call 01438 739626 or email education@towergate.co.uk to find out more.

Services provided by Pearson Webb Consulting are non-regulated.

Towergate Insurance is a trading name of Advisory Insurance Brokers Limited. Registered in England Company No. 4043759, Registered Office: 2 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7PD. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the FCA’s register by checking the FCA website at www.fca.org.uk/register or by contacting them on 0800 111 6768