Full-Scale “Intruder-Attack” Exercises in Secondary Schools: A 2022- 2024 Toulouse Experience

Summary: Since 2015, at the request of the Ministry of Education and the Interior, all schools have been required to organize an internal “intrusion attack” exercise to test their PPMS. Under the guidance of the Haute-Garonne prefecture, one or two full-scale interdepartmental “attack-intrusion” PPMS drills are organized in parallel each year. Between November 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, 2644 students aged between 11 and 19 took part in the exercises, along with 207 teachers and 220 non-teaching staff. A few days in advance, parents and school staff are informed of the date of the exercise, which will take place on a closed site. Arrangements for the participation of children with special needs are specified. There is no communication to the general public on this subject. The scenario involves an armed intrusion into a school, resulting in several casualties. The first part of the exercise consists of playing out, in real life, the response and coordination of services (school, law enforcement, and first aid). The second part is a tabletop exercise that tests the coordination of the various psychological support services during this intrusion. If required during the exercise, players can be taken in charge by these services. The 3rd part allows a defusing of the exercise, followed by an exchange between the students and staff of the school and the state services, to present the missions of each and the equipment used during the exercise. The exercises led to improvements in the implementation of the PPMS in the establishments tested. No adverse events have been reported to date.