AIBU to think a two-day suspension for bringing a knife is too lenient?

[Rodion]

What punishments have similar issues incurred at other schools?

A new student who only only arrived 2 weeks ago brought a knife to school. It was found by a teacher when they had to move his bag as he'd left it in the way. As the teacher picked it up the knife fell out. It was a weapon-y knife as opposed to 'just' a kitchen knife (although they obviously can be used as deadly weapons too) or pen knife. He's recently turned 13 which seems so young to me. Police were called to school and spoke to him and I obviously have no idea what their consequences may or may not be, but the school's punishment is a 2 day suspension. Fellow students were all shocked at how short the suspension is - much less serious things have historically incurred far longer. Thankfully eveyone seems to think the kid is an idiot for doing this and he hasn't gained any respect, but there's a general air of outrage that something so grave gets so little consequence. That said, it is perhaps part of a pattern of things not getting taken seriously by the new head. Lots of bullying has received nothing but a telling off recently.

I am curious about how such things have been handled at other schools. In my head an expulsion would seem reasonable but I have nothing to base that on really.

Should be expulsion, and was in a school near us recently. If over the age of 10 it should also be reported to the police and the child should face criminal consequences. Maybe that would teach them a lesson. Someone who brings in a knife should not be allowed back in school - imagine if this boy now attacks another pupil or teacher? No matter how challenging his home circumstances, the school has to prioritise the safety of the majority over the rights of a troubled minority.

I couldn't work in a school that would exclude a student for having a mental health condition. How did that help anyone?

Edited to add that obviously I don't know the details (and you possibly don't either). If she was encouraging others to do the same, it would be helping her peers.

In my school we had a year 6 pupil bring a knife to school, he was excluded the same day. We then went through the LA to have him permanently excluded, it wasn’t easy as they hate having to find alternative provision for pupils but our head was adamant he was not returning to our setting.

2 days?!
Back in 1991 a classmate threatened some kids with a knife in year 7, we had been at high school for 2 weeks, he was immediately expelled and never allowed into any school after that.
It's ridiculous these days how soft we have become.

It will depend on if he's been moved from another school or has only just come into the country.
As hard as it is to be believed some of the third world countries people walk around with a knife.
In our sons school there were a few boys joined from East Timor. First day they turned up with very large
knives. Police were called and an interpreter where it was explained about the rules re knives.
We did have some fallouts in town where the fathers used knives.(Cleavers)
Fortunately most have moved to a different area now.

What happens after the suspension?
Daily bag and person searches?

But why? Job of the police is to uphold the law. Carrying knives is against the law. Why aren't they charging and passing to the CPS? Really isn't the role of the police to decide who gets prosecuted or who's guilty. That's down to the courts.

It bothers me a lot that we should be operating under the rule of law but the police appear to be operating outside of their powers and this has become naturalised.

What circumstances would make this ok though?

Knives in school should be treated really, really seriously.

The boy who stabbed Harvey Wildgoose had known mental health problems and a difficult home life. Didn't make Harvey any less dead.

I cant answer that but AI tells me this which may mean that things will now change

Official data indicates that approximately 1,000 children a year are found in possession of a knife but receive no formal police action or intervention. In broader surveys, the gap between reported carrying and formal police action is even wider: while over 3,200 children received a caution or sentence in 2024, estimates suggest up to 140,000 to 250,000 children may have carried a weapon in the past year.

Reasons for No Police Action
There are several legal and practical reasons why a child found with a knife might not face immediate police charges or formal action:

• Age of Criminal Responsibility: Children under the age of 10 cannot be charged with a crime in England and Wales. Police have investigated children as young as seven for carrying knives, but these cases cannot result in prosecution.
• Deferred Prosecution & Diversion: For select cases where criminalisation is deemed disproportionate, the government uses Deferred Prosecution. This allows a child to avoid a criminal record by completing structured support programs, such as mentoring or behavioural therapy, to address root causes like trauma or gang exploitation.
• Discretionary "Exceptional Circumstances": Under NPCC guidelines, police may opt for informal out-of-court disposals in "truly exceptional" cases for those under 16, though this is becoming rarer as policies tighten.
• Focus on Victimhood: Many children found with knives are identified as victims of exploitation (e.g., "County Lines" drug trafficking). In these instances, authorities may prioritise safeguarding and social worker involvement over criminal charges.
• Lawful Excuses: While rare for children, a person cannot be convicted if they have a "good reason" or "lawful authority" for carrying the knife, such as for work or religious reasons (though self-protection is not a valid excuse).

Starting in April 2026, new Home Office guidance mandates that every child caught with a knife must be referred to a Youth Justice Service for a mandatory intervention plan, aiming to eliminate the "no action" gap.

That's right, if it's before lunchtime, it's two sessions of a four session (so 2 day) suspension.

Because there need to be strict guidelines for safeguarding of students. And one of the very clear rules stated that 'any student found with drugs or a bladed weapon' would receive an automatic permanent exclusion. Basic words to that effect. There was nothing vague or arbitrary about it.

They were not excluding a student for having a mental health condition. They were excluding a student for bringing a weapon into school. Arguing that 'I was only going to cut myself' or 'I'm feeling suicidal' is sadly not a get out of jail free card. Whatever individual students' issues are, and many are very sad, there has to be protection for other students and for staff. If you make it clear that this is what will happen you can't then 'let some people off' because they are a special case.

Two cases I personally know of, where the school was “lenient “, both with heavy police and SS involvement (in fact they actively advocated for the children involved), both managed moves , out of area.

One , mum left abusive (to her and the children) husband. I won’t bore you with the gory details , but they really were at significant risk. Teen had a knife and other makeshift “weapons” in her bag in case dad found them (again) and tried to take her/harm her (again). Seriously fucked up situation.

The other ,young teen involved in county lines through family connections, despite being in care. Ended up in disputes with other drug dealers/gang members, claims of owing money and threats of payback. Again, wearing knife for “protection “ in case he was found and they were coming after him.

Is it unbelievably stupid? Yes. Does it put the actual teen at risk? Yes. Does it put their peers and everyone else in the vicinity at risk? Yes.
Would a permanent exclusion fix anything (other than passing the buck)? No.

They’re both safe, out of that life , one at uni and one doing A levels btw. It took A LOT to get there though, including some understanding.

Every incident like this of which I’m aware has resulted in a permanent exclusion.

Yes it is too lenient, where is the deterrent and warning to others thinking of doing the same? The consequences of carrying a knife can result in someone losing their life. Spoken as someone whose close family member was stabbed to death at 17 so perhaps my view is skewed.

Should absolutely be a permanent suspension considering. My daughter got suspended for 5 days for refusing to wear her blazer in 30 degree weather. 2 days for bringing a knife into school is absolutely ridiculous regardless of the child’s circumstances, the safety of other pupils and staff should be top priority.

No it’s not and I’m surprised a headtescher doesn’t know the law around blades. You only need ‘good reason’ to carry a knife with a locking or fixed blade or a blade longer than 3”. Carrying a non-locking folding knife with a blade less than 3” (ie almost all pocket knives and pen knives) is legal without needing to show good reason.

Living in a city where a pupil died last year after being stabbed in school it should be a permanent exclusion & police involvement.

Because the vast majority of knives carried in public are done so perfectly legally. Got a Swiss Army knife in your pocket? Legal. Got a locking Leatherman and on the way back from working in your forestry job? Legal. Got a roll of razor sharp 8-10” fixed blades on the bus? You’re a chef? Legal. Got a nice Buck locking knife on the way to Explorer Scouts camp? Legal.

@Hatty65

I disagree with blanket exclusion policies like that because they can be actively harmful to students, such as the one in your example. A teenager who is bringing a blade to school because she can't go six hours without cutting is one who needs stability not rejection.

I wouldn't defend many knife-carriers, but there are other ways to ensure people are safe rather than exclusion.

@Hallamule The killer of Harvey Willgoose brought a knife to school because he had an unhealthy interest in knives, not because he wanted to self-harm. I don't think the context is the same.

Yep, in infants/juniors we got repeated messages reminding parents to check coat pockets to make sure that children were not accidentally bringing penknives/hoof picks/spent shotgun cartridges to school. They would have expelled half the school if people posting here would have had their way.

That looks promising. I don’t think the Youth Justice Service works with under 10’s though, so I wonder who can help those children?

If he was older & caught with a knife like that outside a school would be a court appearance & probably a jail sentence...

No one will from youth justice, it wont be a crime. It would be dealt with by offering support about why they're carrying the knife.

Permanently excluded at my school.