PFD report

Ashley Daniel Talbot · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 22 Feb 2017•South Wales Central

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
6

Raised in this report

Recipients
2

Named on the report

Responses found
2

Of 2 recipients

Stated actions
16

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised6

  1. Failure to provide safe separation between children crossing and other vehicles on the service road
  2. Lack of early-stage safety advice in school premises design and construction
  3. Lack of accountability among stakeholders for safe school premises design and construction
    Part of recurring concern: Unclear accountability for health and safety controls
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.13

  1. Action

    Promote near-miss reporting through the Council’s accident procedure and headteacher forums.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
  2. Action

    Monitor school supervision arrangements, including supervision checks in the traffic-management checklist.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
  3. Action

    Create a new bus drop-off area on the access road.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.2

  1. Position

    Responsibility for supervising children rests with the school, although the Council monitors schools’ supervision arrangements.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to provide safe separation between children crossing and other vehicles on the service road

Wider context from the report

“(1) The evidence revealed clear deficiencies in relation to the design of the “service road” leading up to the school. This included the construction of a “bus bay” which was inadequate for the number of vehicles required to transport children from the school at the end of the school day. As a direct result of this buses were parked outside the designated bus bay on the service road necessitating children to cross the road which was, at the time of the accident, being used by other vehicles such as staff vehicles, visitors vehicles and school vehicles. This created a highly dangerous situation which resulted in the loss of life. The evidence also revealed that there had been several “near misses” which appeared to have gone unreported. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of early-stage safety advice in school premises design and construction

Wider context from the report

“(3) The wider investigation revealed that there was a clear lack of accountability between the various stakeholders in the design and construction of the school premises to ensure that a safe facility was constructed. Appropriate Safety Advice at an early stage, the evidence showed, would have reduced the likelihood of injury or death. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of accountability among stakeholders for safe school premises design and construction

Wider context from the report

“(3) The wider investigation revealed that there was a clear lack of accountability between the various stakeholders in the design and construction of the school premises to ensure that a safe facility was constructed. Appropriate Safety Advice at an early stage, the evidence showed, would have reduced the likelihood of injury or death. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unclear accountability for health and safety controls.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Insufficient staff supervision of children boarding buses

Wider context from the report

“(2) At the time of the accident there was insufficient staff supervision of children boarding buses at the end of the school day. Given the issues with the site, which the evidence indicated had been raised when the school was still under construction and before it opened in 2008, the number and position of staff was inadequate to ensure children boarded their buses safely. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to report near misses involving children and vehicles

Wider context from the report

“(1) The evidence revealed clear deficiencies in relation to the design of the “service road” leading up to the school. This included the construction of a “bus bay” which was inadequate for the number of vehicles required to transport children from the school at the end of the school day. As a direct result of this buses were parked outside the designated bus bay on the service road necessitating children to cross the road which was, at the time of the accident, being used by other vehicles such as staff vehicles, visitors vehicles and school vehicles. This created a highly dangerous situation which resulted in the loss of life. The evidence also revealed that there had been several “near misses” which appeared to have gone unreported. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate service road and bus bay design for end-of-day child transport

Wider context from the report

“(1) The evidence revealed clear deficiencies in relation to the design of the “service road” leading up to the school. This included the construction of a “bus bay” which was inadequate for the number of vehicles required to transport children from the school at the end of the school day. As a direct result of this buses were parked outside the designated bus bay on the service road necessitating children to cross the road which was, at the time of the accident, being used by other vehicles such as staff vehicles, visitors vehicles and school vehicles. This created a highly dangerous situation which resulted in the loss of life. The evidence also revealed that there had been several “near misses” which appeared to have gone unreported. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Promote near-miss reporting through the Council’s accident procedure and headteacher forums.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Corporate Health and Safety Team has promoted near-miss reporting within the current accident procedure across the Council. This was promoted with all headteachers at their forum meetings.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Monitor school supervision arrangements, including supervision checks in the traffic-management checklist.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The supervision of the children falls under the responsibility of the school. The Council has monitored all schools’ supervision arrangements during their observations by health and safety”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Create a new bus drop-off area on the access road.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The bus bay has been extended and can now accommodate seven buses. If there are changes to the number of buses required, this will be reviewed to ensure the space remains sufficient. The school site is now also subject to a lockdown, with no vehicles being allowed to enter or move around the site until the children have alighted/boarded the buses. Buses are only permitted to arrive/leave under controlled operation. A new drop-off area has been created on the access road (Ffordd Dysgu).”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement identified physical traffic-management works, including additional crossings, barriers and bollards.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following this incident, the traffic management arrangements at all schools in the Borough were observed by Health and Safety Officers and Road Safety Officers. Both internal and external arrangements at the school were observed and documented. Advice was provided to all headteachers at their forum meetings and a checklist was developed to assist them in monitoring their current arrangements. A programme of works was identified for the physical environment which is currently being implemented. Examples of work undertaken at these locations included extra crossings, the installation of additional barriers and bollards. Works were also carried out at Maesteg Comprehensive School.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Establish multidisciplinary design boards and integrate traffic safety, highway and infrastructure-cost considerations into new-school projects.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The design project board for any new school build is now a multi-discipline team including designers, clients, highways road safety staff and health and safety officers. The project is now planned more strategically and with a holistic view. Early consideration is given to traffic management arrangements both internal and external for any new schools. Advice is sought at an options appraisal stage to ensure any potential highway issues are identified prior to a site being chosen. Infrastructure costs, including works to highways and on-site parking/drop-off arrangements, are now included in the overall costs of the budget. Once a site is identified and design is underway, the project board maintains a link with the on-site management of the build.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 2 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Extend the school bus bay to accommodate seven buses.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The bus bay has been extended and can now accommodate seven buses. If there are changes to the number of buses required, this will be reviewed to ensure the space remains sufficient. The school site is now also subject to a lockdown, with no vehicles being allowed to enter or move around the site until the children have alighted/boarded the buses. Buses are only permitted to arrive/leave under controlled operation. A new drop-off area has been created on the access road (Ffordd Dysgu).”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement a school-site lockdown and controlled bus movements during pupil boarding and alighting.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The bus bay has been extended and can now accommodate seven buses. If there are changes to the number of buses required, this will be reviewed to ensure the space remains sufficient. The school site is now also subject to a lockdown, with no vehicles being allowed to enter or move around the site until the children have alighted/boarded the buses. Buses are only permitted to arrive/leave under controlled operation. A new drop-off area has been created on the access road (Ffordd Dysgu).”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Observe and document internal and external traffic-management arrangements at all schools.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following this incident, the traffic management arrangements at all schools in the Borough were observed by Health and Safety Officers and Road Safety Officers. Both internal and external arrangements at the school were observed and documented. Advice was provided to all headteachers at their forum meetings and a checklist was developed to assist them in monitoring their current arrangements. A programme of works was identified for the physical environment which is currently being implemented. Examples of work undertaken at these locations included extra crossings, the installation of additional barriers and bollards. Works were also carried out at Maesteg Comprehensive School.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Extend the bus bay to provide adequate parking and prevent buses parking outside the designated area.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(1) The bus bay being inadequate for the no. of vehicles. The bus bay has now been extended and now provides adequate parking for all buses, there is now no parking of buses outside of the designated bay. There is a lockdown of the school premises prior to and during pupils exiting the school and loading onto the buses, there is no vehicle movement during this period.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce a 5mph speed limit within the school grounds.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(4) Additional measures now in place include a 5mph speed limit within the school grounds. Staff managed pedestrian crossing points where pupils access the school via our safe routes to school pathways.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Manage pedestrian crossing points on pupils’ safe routes to school pathways.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(4) Additional measures now in place include a 5mph speed limit within the school grounds. Staff managed pedestrian crossing points where pupils access the school via our safe routes to school pathways.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lock down the school premises and halt vehicle movement while pupils exit, board and load onto buses.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(1) The bus bay being inadequate for the no. of vehicles. The bus bay has now been extended and now provides adequate parking for all buses, there is now no parking of buses outside of the designated bay. There is a lockdown of the school premises prior to and during pupils exiting the school and loading onto the buses, there is no vehicle movement during this period.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Increase staff supervision to provide adequate staffing while children board buses at the end of the day.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(2) Staff supervision has been increased and there are now adequate nos. in place when children are boarding the buses at the end of the day.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Responsibility for supervising children rests with the school, although the Council monitors schools’ supervision arrangements.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The supervision of the children falls under the responsibility of the school. The Council has monitored all schools’ supervision arrangements during their observations by health and safety”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

School governors had no authority or input regarding the facility’s design or construction.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(3) While I agree with the lack of accountability regarding the construction of a safe facility school governors would have had no input regarding the design or construction.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Continue working with governing bodies and headteachers to monitor schools and take necessary safety actions.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
  2. 2

    Provide headteachers with road-safety advice and a checklist for monitoring school traffic arrangements.

    Stated by Bridgend County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.
  3. 3

    Establish a vehicle drop-off point approximately 200 metres from the main gates to reduce congestion and provide access via the rear steps.

    Stated by Maesteg Comprehensive SchoolStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 March 2017.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue working with governing bodies and headteachers to monitor schools and take necessary safety actions.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I hope the above reassures you that Bridgend County Borough Council has taken appropriate steps to respond to the events at Maesteg Comprehensive School, and has also considered the actions that are needed throughout the Borough. The Council is committed to improving health and safety within the schools and will continue to work with the governing bodies and headteachers to ensure the situation at all schools is monitored and actions taken as necessary.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 2 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide headteachers with road-safety advice and a checklist for monitoring school traffic arrangements.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following this incident, the traffic management arrangements at all schools in the Borough were observed by Health and Safety Officers and Road Safety Officers. Both internal and external arrangements at the school were observed and documented. Advice was provided to all headteachers at their forum meetings and a checklist was developed to assist them in monitoring their current arrangements. A programme of works was identified for the physical environment which is currently being implemented. Examples of work undertaken at these locations included extra crossings, the installation of additional barriers and bollards. Works were also carried out at Maesteg Comprehensive School.”

Source location

Ashley-Talbot-Response
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Establish a vehicle drop-off point approximately 200 metres from the main gates to reduce congestion and provide access via the rear steps.

Verbatim wording from the response

“(5) A vehicle drop off point approximately 200 metres from the main gates which allows children to access the school via steps leading to the back of the school lessening the vehicle nos. which caused congestion outside the main gates.”

Source location

2017-0051-Response-by-Maesteg-School
Page 1 · response
Published 5 March 2017

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026