Police called to Leyland school over knife claim

Police were called to a high school after a staff member raised concerns that boys armed with knives were making their way to campus.
St Mary's High School, Leyland.St Mary's High School, Leyland.
St Mary's High School, Leyland.

Police attended St Mary's Catholic High School in Royal Avenue, Leyland, at around 2.15pm this afternoon (Wednesday, January 24) regarding the concerns.

However, the two boys who had made their way to St Mary's High School were subsequently apprehended in the head teacher's office - and both of them were unarmed.

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A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "Officers attended and it is believed that two teenagers had gone to the school to meet a friend who is a pupil there."

The police spokesman confirmed that the incident was a false alarm and pupils were allowed to leave the school shortly after.

One parent - who wishes to stay anonymous - contacted the Post saying that "there were kids crying" and "children were told to lock themselves in classrooms, hide under tables and barricade doors". She said parents were texted about the incident afterwards.

She added: "Children have been practicing such attacks in recent months. It was a good job as far as I'm concerned."

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A statement issued by the headteacher of St Mary's High School, Philip Mooney, said that the decision to implement their lock-down procedure was taken at 2:10pm after the school "received information threatening the safety of pupils and staff".

Mr Mooney added: "Police were immediately notified with precise information as to the nature of the threat and the trauma inevitably being experienced by pupils who were safe, but in a lock-down situation.

"It is worth noting that although several pupils were visibly upset by these events, the response of the pupils and staff was to stay calm and alert in the face of a stressful episode.

"Again, St Mary’s pupils and staff have shown their resilience and unity in the face of adversity."

Lancashire County Council has been contacted for a comment.