Threat to kill

[concernedparentofone]

I found out last night that a child in my DC's school (with previous of attacking children and staff unprovoked) said in class that they were going to stab everyone with a knife, and couldn't wait until they were all dead.

What would be the expected protocol in this case?

If you are a teacher follow your safeguarding procedures and if you are a parent speak to either the class teacher or one of the schools safeguarding officers usually a senior member of staff. They will then follow their procedures.

Report it to the head teacher, it could be a child protection case if he is hearing stuff like that at home. Also depends on the age.

Age is 12 and initial reaction apparently from school was to just brush it as a comment a child can make.

Thanks for your replies @Bedofwool @Raven88

I would take it further. 5 mins on google could easily "validate" this child's feeling and inspire him to try to carry it out, especially if there is distress of some kind at home. Even if it is just words NOW this child could well be carrying a knife to school a year from now if it's just brushed off.

Keep pushing for this to be taken seriously- head, governors etc.

Make sure you put your concerns in writing to the headteacher, it's a lot more difficult for it to be brushed off that way. Also make sure you get an appropriate response to your concerns, if not take it further. You can't expect to find out what is going on with or provided for the child making threats but you can expect the school to outline what specific measures it has put in place to keep children safe including from unprovoked attacks and knives, given the threat.

The child in question clearly needs help of some description. The resources aren't always easily accessible to provide that help and it may take a serious complaint (or worse an incident) to ensure the child gets help.

I say this as a parent to a child who has made death threats at school (albeit a slightly younger child). For us, child with ASD not coping in school and needing more help which was immediately not forthcoming, and has taken a lot of fighting from us to get the necessary help so he is now in a better place/No longer making threats. Some children aren't so lucky and don't have parents who fight so hard for them.

I also understand how you must feel with you child being on the receiving end of the death threats as my son often targeted his siblings at school (but not at home). Make sure you do follow this up and get satisfactory answers.

I would flag it up under the heading safeguarding to all the appropriate staff in the school- safeguarding lead, class teacher, headteacher

And also ask to see their policies in the event a child did come to school with a knife

And request that bags are checked

And request that there is education immediately on bullying/knife crime/who to talk to if you need to talk about something etc in that class

I wouldn't be okay with it just being a throwaway comment and rolled eyes at

It has happened

I have taught in secondaries for nearly two decades and have never heard of a child saying something like this. Absolutely insist that it is acted on.

Thank you for your very helpful comments. There has been no correspondence after incident with the school and parents (with exception of first (and demanded by parent) meeting with HT. It would seem that many parents of the class don't even know there has been an incident. Children haven't been briefed on anything, no support. Although apparently some children are showing signs of anxiety and worry about it.

I've namechanged so as not identify my school. I teach in Australia, and on the strength of a graffitied threat, the police were in big time, interviews, the lot.

That this specific and identifiable threat has gone quiet is disturbing. Put your concerns in writing to the HT with a deadline foe reopens. Follow up if no response.

We had this before we moved DD, I spoke to the local authority as I was sick of the threats and violence she endured throughout year 4. When I mentioned that the boy said he and/or his dad would shoot her or stab me or her, they asked what action the school had taken.
I said none as they did nothing.
The local authority immediately contacted the school, police and social services, as any threat of violence involving weapons, credible or not, comes under the current anti-terror safe guarding laws.
Police took it incredibly seriously.
I would contact your LEA.

The child has been removed from class for lessons for two days now apparently (this happened previously too due to behaviour and disturbing the class) but is still present at break times and children see the child at other random points throughout the day. Of course I know nothing of any meetings the HT has had regarding it, or if it was followed up officially with education board. But that has now become our concern, we don't know if the matter is being dealt with. We've been completely shut out. Told that the HT has years of experience and to just trust her gut that this is no big deal 

Id hope the school were aware of it. Has the kid got SEN? Most kids dont go round attacking unprovoked of course whether SEN or not, but sounds like hes not in the right placement, and id be concerned for safety of other kids if its directed at actual people rather than school in general.

Id also wonder if he was being tormented/bullied at school, even if not by your child, ad was getting it out of proportion as to who the perpetrators actually are

Thanks @Branleuse as far as I'm aware no concern for bullying. I've tried to keep as much information back regarding the child as possible as it's the handling of this exact incidence that has thrown me and needing advice on.

It's been the HT handling of it that has greatly concerned me. This should be followed up professionally, not put down to banter.

Meeting with the child to find out why/what is their intention
Meeting with child and their parents - inc educational input on the law/consequences
Sanction - may depend on context and history and outcome of the above meetings
May be safeguarding issues that the school also acts on

TBH, this could be something to report to the police.

You can also report to the local authority SPA if the school are doing nothing.

The school should not be judging this situation - they should refer it on. It is not their job to investigate.

Please badger the HT about this. If you do not get a satisfactory response within 48 hours, take it to the local authority yourself. It’s the right thing to do.

@CraftyGin thank you, what would you expect an appropriate response be? The child was removed from class after other parents demanded to know what was being done to ensure their children's safety, but there has been no correspondence since meeting with any parents, no children in the class have been offered any support or even asked how they felt about the situation. And parents have no confidence that the HT has done anything other than put the child in all day detention as such.

I'm concerned that this is all being kept very quiet, and possibly no other authorities notified. The HT apparently said that parents should just trust her gut and experience that the child meant no harm. But this child has already shown to have violent tendencies. It's very sad and worrying.

@ASauvignonADay thank you, I have taken notes and I am following this all up. I think I will be fobbed off though. I know that other parents have asked for a meeting about it and haven't been given one, so I'm expecting the same tomorrow.

What I expect to see from the Head Teacher is some kind of holding email - refer to the incident, school took immediate action to mitigate risks, and are now investigating all the facts. And then to inform you in due course, but invite any concerns in the meantime.