Knife at school

[mumnosbest]

I'll keep this as brief as possible as I'm interested in what should have happened from a professional point of view, rather than emotional responses.

DD yr7 came home from school and told me that a group of them talked another child into throwing a kitchen knife over a fence (out of reach) when they caught her threatening another child. They then told a teacher and we're asked twice more by staff For their statements. School haven't informed us at all so I don't know what action, if any, has been taken. I have emailed school as the office was closed but am now reluctant to send my daughter to school tomorrow, in case the girl is there and possibly could seek revenge.

Are there any secondary teachers out there who can advise? Should school have informed me, reported to the police, excluded the child?

TIA

I would give a statement to the police imo and not send my child in until someone explains what's happening.
That may seem extreme but we live in an area with so much knife crime it's v serious and that is so scary. I'm so glad nothing happened to your child.

Thanks. I'm of a similar opinion. I don't want to over react but not do I want to regret doing nothing and have no idea what the school have done

As a parent I'd expect an immediate short term exclusion for the child (probably exclusion but maybe internal inclusion).
But from then I'd expect school to take appropriate action based on
a) age of child
b) previous behaviour & circumstances (eg one off & difficulties at home v has been violent before and general trouble maker)

I personally would send my child into school, and I wouldn't inform police as school are clearly taking action as they have asked for statements.

One off or not the school will have to report it to the police. I guess it may depend where you live but we are in London are this kind of thing would be dealt with v seriously and I'm v surprised the school hasn't contacted you. There's lots of county lines stuff around us and an 11 year old with a knife sounds like one that's getting groomed by a gang or has a sibling that is and will need support. More so, OPs daughter will need support too. She may be handling it well as she's going but that is traumatic and often that trauma doesn't set in until you're older and realise what actually happened.

I would normally expect a child to be permanently excluded for carrying a knife. (School governor here who sits on exclusion panels). Although obviously would need to know the full circumstances.

The OP would not be told that the other child has been excluded though, so all this may be happening and the OP won't know.

The fact your child was asked to make a statement is a good indication that it's being properly dealt with. Where no actual injury has been inflicted it's fairly common for the school not to communicate with parents of witnesses, but just the parents of the child who's behaviour needs addressing.

You could keep your DD off for today only and phone for an urgent appointment with a member of SLT to ask how your child will be kept safe. They can't tell you much about the other girl though.

Spoke to the deputy and apparently only some of the girls reported that the girl was threatening the others (her friends) said she got it out of her packed lunch to show off. Either way the school weren't over concerned as she's got no previous so didn't feel the need to report it and didn't want to scare parents but they have excluded the child for the remainder of the week. Contradictory and feels like it's being brushed under the carpet

There should be a school policy. Have a look on the website.

Where I work it would be an instant permanent exclusion for the child that was in possession of the knife.

However contacting the parents of witnesses wouldn't necessarily get done on the same day - dealing with the knife-owning child and the one that had been threatened would be the priority.

Just pop into school with your child in the morning, ask them to confirm the action he been taken; if so then let your child go in, if not then you may wish to take them home.

Ime schools do underplay knife crime.

My ds had a knife pulled on him in a classroom.child was excluded for 2 days. Ds has severe anxiety attacks and had day off for go appointment and anxiety and they wouldn't authorise. They didn't even take witness statements and police said they give schools powers to deal with stuff at school during school time.

I think in the current climate they should be taking things far more seriously - not a lax attitude.

Former secondary school teacher here, and this is a bit of a sore point for me.

I had this happen during my first year of teaching; a year 10 discretely pulled out a knife during one of my classes. Student was taken away and I didn't see them again. Turns out they had been suspended/excluded (not sure which) and moved to another school that was relatively close. There were concerns around the kid so I believe the school were trying to be a bit softer than I would have liked. I as the class teacher was expected to provide work for the kid until the move was complete. The police were informed I believe. Personally, I think brandishing a knife in a school should carry a harsher punishment. For the case I just described the kid used it to intimidate another student. I would have like to have seen him expelled. Anything less undermines the safety of the other students at the school IMO.

I don't know how much info the school gave parents.

In any school I have worked or known, the child would have been permanently excluded for bringing in a knife.

You wouldn't necessarily be told tho.