To keep DS from school until it’s safe.

[Outofhand]

Name change as very outing.

DS in year 7, has been having issues with two boys in year 9. They are known to us as we used to live in the same road 6 years ago. They very occasionally played together then but weren’t friends as such. There’s been no contact since we moved 6 years ago.

DS started year 7 and said one of them had seen him and said “you’re DS name” DS confirmed. Didn’t think much of it.

Over the past few months the two boys have occasionally followed DS and said silly things like DS is gay etc. We didn’t think much of it and told DS not to engage and just ignore. No threats or any inclinations of what has now happened.

DS came home yesterday and said the boys were following him during lunch, one told him they had a gun in their bag, DS made a remark back saying the only thing he had in his bag is a dildo. Thinking this would lighten the situation up and show he wasn’t scared. The boy then said “I’ve got a knife” DS ignored continued walking and again was met with “I said I’ve got a F-ing knife”, DS again carried on walking and ignored. Boys then said “watch your back DSname”

DS stupidly didn’t go to staff, he has issues with telling, part of him was scared to and the fear of making things even worse. Once he had told me I’ve emailed the school and called the police on the non emergency number. Police came today and weren’t very helpful, no proof or evidence of the boy having a knife or gun, apparently it isn’t a direct threat either. They’ve referred to the youth policing team and are handing back to the school to deal with.

Today was an inset day so I’ve heard nothing from the school about any plan. DS is due in school on Monday. I’m very apprehensive to send him without knowing exactly what the school will do and have in place to keep DS safe.

Am I being overprotective? Overthinking it all? I just can’t help thinking I’d rather keep him home and the school be annoyed than getting a call to say he’s been hurt or more.

It is very unlikely that the student had a gun in his bag. It’s possible he had a knife.

the other students will not be expelled for telling another student they had a knife when it is likely that they didn’t.

i would nevertheless keep your son off school. A pp’s suggestion of checking his messages etc is a good one.

in primary it may be that this sort of thing can be handled by the child although even then telling sm adult is a good idea.

i was a teacher for a long time and children do bring knives to school. This is not the sort of situation a teen can handle on their own and it would probably be a good idea for him to understand that things can be a lot more serious at secondary and he does need to tell an adult.

WHY

is anyone voting YABU. None of the comments match that. Cowards. And trolls.

OP keep your child safe. No school until a plan is in place. Any threat of a knife in children is not a game.

follow your instincts. I am so sorry for you.

This is really dissappointing xx

13 percent of Mumsnet votes would not keep their child home, after they had been threatened with a knife, until a plan was in place.

unreal

Apologies, I should have prefaced my opening comments to show that they were directed at the clueless posters and their unhelpful comments.

Both of us who are teachers have given almost identical advice. I hope you and your son can take the time this weekend to decompress. You're right, he's very young, and the cops should have been more proactive. It's their job too deal with criminal offences. Threatening a child is a criminal offence not a behaviour infraction.

He was not threatened with a knife.

there may or may not have been a knife the bag.

extensive experience with teenagers teaches me that some of them will say anything to annoy or upset other students and while saying things to upset people is not ok it is not the same as actually threatening someone with a knife.