New Hall Lane primary school knife incident sees parent uproar and child removed from school

The primary school in New Hall Lane Pic: Google

Police were called to a Preston primary school after morning drop-off time as concerns are raised by parents over a knife-related incident.

St Matthew’s Church of England Primary Academy has released a statement after the incident which took place on Wednesday 19 March – amid concern from parents about how the incident had been handled.

A pupil at the New Hall Lane-based primary school was removed from school after two knives were brought into school.

Mark Mackley, headteacher of the school which is part of the Cidari Multi Academy Trust, told Blog Preston: “I can confirm that there was an incident on Wednesday 19th March in which two small folding knives were brought into school.

“This matter was dealt with swiftly at the start of the school day using the robust policies and systems we have in place. The pupil was removed, the knives confiscated, parents contacted and the police called. The knives were never visibly displayed in school by the pupil in question.

“Following investigations we are assured that there was no malicious intent. We are now working with the child, their family, and the police, to reinforce the messaging for all our pupils around personal safety and the dangers of carrying weapons of any kind.

“We have communicated the facts of this incident with parents and carers and I encourage those with
further questions to get in contact with the school.”

The discovery of the knives was reported by the school to a local PCSO who is said to have handled the incident.

Parents at the school had contacted Blog Preston to express their concerns about the incident – and in messages seen by Blog Preston say they are keeping their children at home as they claim they don’t feel safe.

Parents say they were concerned about the way the incident was not communicated to them – as they had to message the school directly to find out any information.

A mother at the school, Keri, speaking to Blog Preston, expressed her frustration at how the incident had been handled.

She said: “We are concerned about why there was no message sent to the whole school about what took place. Even if it was brief and didn’t go into detail.

“We’re finding out from our friends children when they are coming home or from messages appearing on social media. It’s really disappointing. I feel like the school haven’t communicated well, or at all, about a very serious incident.”

She said a number of parents attended the school on Friday to speak to the headteacher about what had taken place and share their concerns but were told they couldn’t meet with him – despite the offer being made in messages.

In a message sent to a parent by the headteacher seen by Blog Preston it says the incident was ‘both isolated and contained’ and the school wanted ‘to prevent any unnecessary concern amongst the parents and children’.

Mr Mackley goes on to say “our school is no more dangerous than any other school in the locality.

“In my 31 years teaching and 19 as headteacher (six years here), this is the first and only time I have had to deal with an incident such as this which I hope reassures you.”

When challenged by the parent about why parents were not informed, Mr Mackley says “it is not as significant an event as you may believe, nevertheless, it has been treated with the utmost seriousness and dealt with accordingly.”

A number of parents gathered outside the school during Friday morning to protest the way the incident had been communicated to them.

Police had to be called to the school gates on Friday (21 March) morning after a protest broke out.

A police spokesperson said: “We received a report at 9.05am today (21 March) of public order at St Matthew’s School, New Lane Hall, Preston. Our officers attended and will revisit the school.”

No arrests were made in connection with the protest or in relation to the knife incident.

Blog Preston understands a number of parents are planning to make a formal complaint to the school’s over-arching Academy Trust about the handling of the incident and the communications that followed.

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