Parents have described “horror and shock” as a teenage boy was arrested at a Gloucestershire school after a pupil was reported to have stabbed a male teacher.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said an adult has been taken to hospital with a suspected stab wound following an incident at Tewkesbury School on Ashchurch Road.
Emergency services were called at around 9.10am on Monday to reports a pupil had stabbed a teacher at the secondary school, which was subsequently locked down.
A crowd of around 100 people has gathered outside the school— (Tom Wren / SWNS)
A parent whose daughter was one of the pupils trapped in the locked down school told The Independent of her “complete horror and shock”.
Have you been affected by this incident? Email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk
She said it is one of her daughter’s teachers who is suspected to have been stabbed, although her daughter was in a separate classroom at the time of the incident.
As soon as the news was reported, all of her family contacted her, she said. “My first thought was, ‘Oh my god, is my daughter safe? Is everyone safe?’”
Her daughter sent her a text, offering reassurance that she was safe. But the mother added: “She’s been freaked out, and the teachers have been doing their best to keep them calm.”
A former pupil of the school herself, she said the news is a “massive shock”, imagining “frightened” pupils and teachers. “People in the vicinity of the incident will have been traumatised,” she added.
In an open letter to parents and carers, Principal Kathleen McGillycuddy said the school was alerted shortly before 9am to reports of a “serious incident, which left a male member of staff in need of hospital treatment”.
Emergency services were called at around 9.10am on Monday to reports a pupil had stabbed a teacher at the secondary school, which was subsequently locked down— (Tom Wren / SWNS)
In the update posted on the school’s website, she added she wanted to offer reassurance “all pupils remain safe and well” at this “worrying time for all”. A later update confirmed pupils are beginning to be sent home.
A spokesman said it is not yet known when the school will reopen, adding: “We are grateful to all our staff, parents and students for their patience and understanding during what has been a difficult morning, while our thoughts are with our injured colleague – we wish him a swift and successful recovery.”
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said they sent three double-crewed land ambulances and two operations officers to the scene and confirmed: “We conveyed one patient by land to Gloucester Royal Hospital.”
Someone in the area wrote on social media of having “never seen so many police in one time before” and “hundreds of worried parents outside, worried for their kids”.
A crowd of around 100 people has gathered outside, while at least three police patrol cars were parked on the school grounds and uniformed officers stood on duty at the entrances.
However, a convoy of six unmarked police 4×4 vehicles – believed to contain armed officers – has now left the school. All of the officers in those cars had their faces covered as they drove away. Three ambulances have also left the school.
Police have advised parents or carers of pupils of Tewkesbury School to go to Dobbies Garden Centre on Diamond Road, where officers are offering assistance.
Laurence Robertson MP for Tewkesbury said he is “deeply shocked and saddened” by the news of the “terrible” incident.
Writing on Twitter, he added: “My thoughts are with everyone at the scene. And my thanks to the staff, police, Dobbies and everyone trying to deal with the situation.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday morning, he said: “Weapons have no place in a school or society.
“Tewkesbury is a very peaceful area, it’s law-abiding, it’s got its activities. It’s a growing area with businesses and more houses coming. This is a very big shock.
“The school is very well-known. They carry out extraordinary work. This is such a surprise. We’re proud of the school and proud of the whole area.”
Rishi Sunak's thoughts are with those impacted by the incident at the school in Tewkesbury, Downing Street said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "It is a live investigation, but the Prime Minister's thoughts are with the individual who has been injured and with the staff and pupils of the school who would obviously be extremely concerned. He wants to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response."
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she is “deeply concerned” by the reports of a stabbing at the school.
In a statement posted on social media, she said: “We are closely monitoring the situation and remain hugely grateful to the emergency services who are currently on the scene. My department is on hand to support the school as the situation unfolds.”
The leader of a headteachers’ union has described the reported stabbing of the teacher as “appalling”. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “The teacher concerned and all affected are in our thoughts and prayers.”
