- Pupils ‘sobbing’ after being barred from leaving St Hild’s school in Hartlepool
A secondary school was plunged into lockdown leaving pupils ‘trapped’ after ‘threats’ were made to two students by a former pupil.
Armed police surrounded St Hild’s Church of England School, in Hartlepool, this afternoon and patrolled the corridors with pupils barred from leaving the premises at the end of the school day.
Swathes of worried parents and guardians were pictured standing on pavements as they gathered outside the school gates.
Some took to social media to say their ‘anxiety is through the roof’ as they relayed messages they had received from their ‘terrified’ children inside the building.
Pupils were left in tears and ‘scared to death’ after seeing armed officers patrolling through the school corridors, according to some parents.
St Hild’s CofE school in Hartlepool was plunged into lockdown after ‘threats’ were made to two pupils
The force said in a statement officers attended ‘as a matter of precaution following some concerns raised’
They were eventually released 90 minutes later just after 5pm when they were escorted off the premises year-by-year under police guard.
A 16-year-old boy is tonight being held in police custody after being arrested at his home address, Cleveland Police said.
The force said in a statement officers attended ‘as a matter of precaution following some concerns raised after a threat was made to two boys at the school by a former pupil’.
The force said in an earlier statement: ‘There is currently a precautionary police presence in the area of St Hild’s School in Hartlepool, following some concerns raised after a threat was made to two boys at the school by a former pupil.
‘The school have followed their own safeguarding procedures and have activated a lockdown at the school whilst officers make enquiries.
‘Police are currently working closely with the school and the local community to offer reassurance, ensure everyone’s safety, and to return the school to normality as soon as possible.’
Many parents thanked the school, which has 700 pupils, for keeping their children safe as others detailed the emotional toll it had had on their kids with some declaring they wouldn’t be going to lessons tomorrow.
One mother said her 12-year-old son was stuck in his classroom with ‘police with guns outside’.
Armed police surrounded the secondary school and were patrolling the corridors with students stopped from leaving their classrooms
Swathes of worried parents and guardians were pictured standing on pavements as they gathered outside the school gates
An armed officer stands guard outside the school gates. The students were eventually allowed off the premises 90 minutes after the lockdown started
A 16-year-old boy is tonight being held in police custody after being arrested at his home address, Cleveland Police said
Another said her daughter, 11, is now ‘scared to death’. She said: ‘My daughter is only 11 and she’s sobbing a lot.’
There was some confusion among parents after school leaders said ‘there is an issue in the community – not the school building or with any of our pupils’.
In an update posted on its Facebook page just before 5pm, St Hild’s said: ‘We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the parents and carers for their unwavering support.
‘As we navigate through this partial lockdown, please rest assured that we’re dedicated to caring for your child with utmost diligence and care.
‘In partnership with Cleveland Police, we’re diligently following established safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all our pupils.
‘Your trust and cooperation mean the world to us as we work together to create a secure environment for our young ones.’
The lockdown was lifted just after 5pm.
