Tree Surgery for Schools: What You Need to Know

Schools have specific requirements when it comes to tree work: requirements that go well beyond what a domestic customer needs to think about. If you're a premises manager or business manager responsible for tree maintenance on school grounds, here's what you should be looking for before you instruct a contractor.

DBS Checks Are Non-Negotiable

Any contractor working on school grounds during school hours, or in areas where children could be present, should hold current DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks. This isn't optional. It's a safeguarding requirement, and most schools' procurement policies and insurance policies will require it.

Ask to see DBS certificates before work begins, and check they're issued at the enhanced level (not basic). Keep a copy on file.

Risk Assessments and Method Statements

A professional contractor working in a school environment should provide a full RAMS document, Risk Assessment and Method Statement, before any work starts. This document should cover:

• Identification of hazards specific to the site (children, staff, buildings, utilities)
• Control measures in place for each hazard
• Method of work: how the tree surgery will actually be carried out
• Emergency procedures
• Equipment to be used and confirmation it is maintained and inspected
• PPE requirements for operatives

If a contractor can't produce a RAMS or seems unfamiliar with the concept, don't use them on a school site.

Scheduling Around School Life

Tree surgery is noisy, and chainsaws and chippers aren't compatible with a school day. Most schools schedule significant tree work during term breaks (half term, Easter, summer) to avoid disruption to lessons and to reduce the safeguarding complexity of working around children.

However, reactive work (storm damage, dangerous hanging limbs) sometimes can't wait. A good contractor will be able to work safely during the school day with proper exclusion zones, clear signage and communication with site staff, but this needs to be planned and agreed in advance, not assumed.

Tree Surveys and Ongoing Programmes

Schools with significant tree stock, particularly older schools with mature trees, should have a formal tree inspection programme in place. BS 5837 recommends regular surveys by a competent arborist to assess condition, risk category and recommended action.

A written survey report gives you a defensible record of due diligence. If a tree fails and causes injury or damage, you'll want to demonstrate that you had the tree professionally assessed and acted on the recommendations. A verbal “it looks fine” from someone who came to cut the grass is not sufficient.

What to Check Before Appointing a Contractor

• DBS certificates for all operatives who will be on site
• Public liability insurance: minimum £5 million, ideally £10 million
• NPTC/Lantra qualifications for chainsaw and climbing operatives
• Membership of CHAS, Safe Contractor, SSIP or equivalent
• Ability to produce site-specific RAMS before work begins
• References from other schools or local authority contracts
• Clear process for communicating with site staff on the day

TPOs and Conservation Areas

Before any tree work is carried out on school grounds, check whether any trees are subject to a Tree Preservation Order or whether the school is within a Conservation Area. Both place restrictions on what work can be done and require notification to or consent from the local planning authority before work proceeds. Your tree surgeon should be able to advise, but the responsibility for compliance ultimately rests with the landowner.

“We work with over 40 schools across Kent and SE London. Our DBS-checked operatives, full RAMS documentation and flexible scheduling, including term-time emergency response, are built around how schools actually work.”

Jack, Founder, I Am Lumberjack