School gates and access control
A school perimeter is only as good as its gates. Gates are where pupils, parents, visitors, deliveries and contractors all cross the line, often at the same time, and where a secure fence is most often undone by a latch that does not close.
This page covers the gates schools use, how to control who comes through them, the safety duties that come with powered gates, and typical costs.
£400 to £900
A pedestrian gate, supplied and fitted, before VAT.
Signs your gates need work
- Gates are propped open in the day because they are awkward to use.
- Pedestrian gates do not self-close or latch reliably.
- Visitors can reach the playground without passing the office.
- A powered gate has no safety edges or photocells, or no record of an annual inspection.
- Keys and codes have spread beyond the people who need them.
What school gates cost
| Item | Guide, before VAT |
|---|---|
| Pedestrian gate Single leaf, matching the fence, self-closing | £400 to £900 |
| Double vehicle gate Swing gates for the main or service entrance | £900 to £2,000 |
| Automating a gate (motor, safety edges, intercom) Added to a vehicle gate | £1,500 to £4,000 |
| Sliding vehicle gate Where there is no room for leaves to swing | Priced per scheme |
| Access control Keypad, fob or video intercom tied to the office | Priced per scheme |
Where these figures come from
Per-metre and gate figures are installed prices from published UK contractor price guides, autumn 2026 (read 2 November 2026). The guides do not say whether VAT is included, so treat them as before VAT and check. Most state schools and academies can recover VAT; ask your finance team. Contract awards for whole schemes are listed on the home page. A guide, not a quote. Sliding gates and access control systems vary too much with size and integration to give a fair single figure.
What to specify for a school gate
Self-closing
Hydraulic closers so pedestrian gates shut every time, without slamming on small fingers.
Latch and lock
Magnetic or mechanical locks that engage on closing; latches set above a young child’s reach on early years gates.
Release
Opened from the office by intercom, or by fob for staff, and always openable from inside for escape.
Timed opening
Unlocked only at drop-off and collection, then locked automatically.
Safety edges
On powered gates, sensors that stop and reverse the gate if it meets a person or object.
Matching security
Same height and mesh as the fence either side, with no gap under the leaf to crawl through.
Powered gates: the safety duties
Automated gates are machines, and the school as owner or occupier must keep them safe. A council guidance note for schools says powered gates need sensors that detect a person or obstacle on either side and make the gate stop and reverse, and that they should be inspected each year by a competent engineer.
The same note asks schools to include gates and barriers in termly site inspections, and to keep records for manual gates too. Gate Safe, a UK gate safety charity, runs training for installers and keeps guidance for owners (gate-safe.org).
When you buy a powered gate, ask for the risk assessment, the force test results, the declaration of conformity and the maintenance schedule at handover. Without them you cannot show the gate is safe.
Gates sticking open, or a powered gate with no paperwork? Tell us what you have and we will look for a contractor who can help.
Request quotesHow a gate and access scheme gets done
Map the flows
Who comes in where and when: pupils, parents, visitors, staff, deliveries, emergency vehicles.
Decide control
Which gates stay locked, which open on a timer, which release from the office.
Specify and price
Gate type, hardware, safety devices and access system on one brief.
Install and hand over
Fitted, tested, with the safety records and a maintenance plan.
Questions schools ask
Should school gates be locked during the day?
Most schools lock or control every gate during the school day and keep one supervised route for visitors through reception. DfE says good access control is essential and visitors should not wander the site unaccompanied.
How much does an automatic school gate cost?
A manual double vehicle gate costs about £900 to £2,000, and automating it adds about £1,500 to £4,000 for the motor, safety edges and intercom, based on autumn 2026 price guides. Sliding gates cost more.
How often should automatic gates be inspected?
Council guidance for schools says at least once a year by a competent gate engineer, with checks in each termly site inspection. Many maintenance contracts visit twice a year.
Can pedestrian gates be locked during collection times?
They can be unlocked on a timer for drop-off and collection and locked again afterwards. Staff on the gate at those times is the other half of the control.
Do gates need to open for fire escape?
Any gate on an escape route must open from the inside without a key, code or fob. Your fire risk assessment should show which gates those are.
Can an existing gate be automated?
Sometimes. The gate must be strong and level enough, with room for the motor and safety devices. A survey will tell you whether adapting or replacing is better.
Request quotes for school gates
Three short steps: where the school is, what the boundary needs, and how to reach you. It takes about two minutes.
This is a free matching service, not a fencing contractor. We look for one who covers your area and tell you who it is before passing anything on.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- We look for a fencing contractor who covers your area and does this kind of school work.
- We email or call to tell you who they are. Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They walk the boundary with you and price the scheme. No marketing from us, ever.