Gloucestershire schools locked down after ‘teacher stabbed by pupil’

A number of schools in Gloucestershire were placed under lockdown after police were called to a report that a teacher was stabbed by a pupil this morning.

A teenage boy has been arrested in connection with the incident, at Tewkesbury School, police said.

Emergency services were called to the school on Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, at around 9am on Monday morning.

Gloucestershire Police said in a statement: “An adult has been taken to hospital with a suspected stab wound following an incident at Tewkesbury School. We were called around 9.10am today (Monday) with a report a pupil had stabbed a teacher. A teenage boy has been arrested in connection with the incident.”

The school’s website shows the students’ first lesson period begins at 9am, meaning police were likely called shortly after pupils started their first class of the day.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were called at 9.08am to an incident in Tewkesbury on Monday 10 July.

“We sent three double-crewed land ambulances and two operations officers. We conveyed one patient by land to Gloucester Royal Hospital.”

The ambulances, and a convoy of six unmarked police 4×4 vehicles – believed to contain armed officers, are no longer at the school.

At least three police patrol cars have been parked on the school grounds and uniformed officers have been stationed at its entrances.

Initially a Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: “Emergency services are at the scene of an incident at Tewkesbury School on Ashchurch Road.

“The school is currently in lockdown while police are at the scene. More information will be released in due course.”

Teachers at the nearby Tirlebrook Primary School posted a message on Facebook saying its school and the nursery on its grounds had also been locked down on police advice and urged parents not to come to the school.

“An incident has occurred this morning at Tewkesbury Academy and we have been advised by Tewkesbury Police to put in place a lock down,” they said.

“We have a police presence at school and are being fully supported at this time. We would like to reassure all families that children at Tirlebrook and Little Oaks are safe and well.

“We must ask that families do not come to school during this time as this could compromise the police operation currently underway and also compromise the safety of the children.

“During this situation all school staff will be supporting the children and liaising with the police so we would ask that you do not attempt to communicate with the school office.

“We thank you all for your support and will update you as soon as possible when we know more.”

A crowd of around 100 people has gathered outside Tewkesbury School following the incident.

Parents and carers of children at the affected schools have been advised to go to a nearby garden centre where they will be able to access further assistance from the police.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said her department is on hand to assist Tewkesbury School.

Ms Keegan tweeted: “I am deeply concerned by reports of a stabbing at Tewkesbury School. 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.”

This story is being updated