Innovative school CCTV installation by Scottish Communication Systems

One of the UK’s most exclusive schools is planning to install an innovative CCTV system devised by Scottish Communications.

Fettes College in Edinburgh, which is Tony Blair’s former school, is to be fitted with cameras hidden in Regency-style lamps to comply with building regulations.

Paul Gibson, managing director of Scottish Communications said the system was probably the most advanced installed at any school in Scotland. Seven cameras, which can home in on any sudden movements, are planned in and around the main school building. All the images will be stored on computer disc.

He said: “Since the main building is A-listed, we’ve had to design special Regency-style lamps which will house the cameras so that they can blend in.”

The system will beam pictures directly to laptop computers of senior staff and is primarily designed to deter intruders. The cameras will cover the main building and the girls’ boarding houses. A planning application for the scheme is currently with Edinburgh City Council.

Fettes College head teacher Michael Spens said: “The interesting thing about this system is that anyone with special access codes will be able to view images through our in house IT system which we spent £400,000 installing a couple of years ago.

“It means we will be able to see what’s going on from any point in the school where we can plug a laptop computer into. We may expand the camera system if it proves to work well.”

For further information contact: enquiries@scssecuritydesign.com