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A school was put in lockdown and a teenage boy arrested after a student was stabbed.
Emergency services were called to Thorpe St Andrew High School near Norwich at about 10.25am on Wednesday to reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested a short time later on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, said Norfolk Police.
“Emergency services are on the scene. The victim has been taken to hospital with minor injuries,” said a spokesman.
Dozens of parents and guardians were seen gathering outside the gates as news spread through the school community.
At around 1.15pm children and teenagers were allowed out and were greeted with hugs and relief from parents.
Leon Brister with his daughter Letizia Brister outside Thorpe St Andrew High School on the edge of Norwich. Credit: PA
Letizia Brister, 16, who is a student at the school, said she was “in shock” over the incident after being reunited with her parents.
She said a bell rang continuously while she was in a lesson and her teacher had to put a table against the classroom door.
“All of us as students had no idea what we were supposed to do in that situation, but the teachers and all the staff definitely knew what they were doing and I did feel quite safe,” she added.
Her father Leon Brister, 35, said: “The communication wasn’t great but in terms of their protocol behind the gates they (the school) did an exceptionally good job of keeping the rest of the children safe.”
He described the wait outside the school as “two and a half hours of anguish just waiting, virtually being kept in the dark with no information”.
A teacher at the school told ITV News Anglia that staff had been told to stay in classrooms with children, adding that the lockdown procedure was “one of the things you practice, but never think you’ll do”.
Genevieve Raghu said she had rushed to the school as soon as she heard the news. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Genevieve Raghu came down to Laundry Lane after getting messages from around 10.30am saying children were hiding under desks and the lockdown bell had sounded.
She said: “I stopped what I was doing and just got on the phone. I just jumped in the car and drove here.
“It’s terrifying. It makes you hold the ones you love closer.”
Parent Adam Howlett outside Thorpe St Andrew High School on the edge of Norwich. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Parent Adam Howlett rushed to the school and said he was worried that he was not able to speak to his daughter.
“I’ve still not heard anything from her and I am concerned as I have spoken to my son who is still locked in his classroom,” he told ITV News Anglia.
“When it comes to your child even minor injuries are terrifying. You don’t expect to come to school and get injured.
“I’m just waiting to find out some news and put my mind at rest.”
Parent Shantelle Taylor outside Thorpe St Andrew High School on the edge of Norwich. Credit: ITV News Anglia
Parent Shantelle Taylor said she only heard about the incident through a friend and had not had any updates from the school.
She added: “I was absolutely fuming that the school hadn’t messaged me.
“I have managed to get hold of my daughter even though she’s been told she is not even allowed to message me to tell me she’s okay which I think is absolutely ridiculous. She is in absolute hysterics but has not been allowed to tell me.”
Broad Horizons Education Trust, which runs the high school and sixth form, said the whole school had been put into lockdown as a result of the incident.
“We have clear procedures in place and our staff acted swiftly, with the whole school going into lockdown, with children staying in their classroom with their teacher,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“One of our students was injured and is now being treated in hospital for minor injuries.
“This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community and our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened.”
Alice Macdonald, the Norwich North MP, posted on social media, offering her condolences.
“Reports from Thorpe St Andrew School are incredibly serious and deeply alarming,” she said.
“Immediately, we need to give the police time to ensure that everyone at the school is safe. My thoughts are with all of them and their families, especially the victim who has been taken to hospital.”
The school, which was rated Good in its 2025 Ofsted inspection, is an 11-to-18 mixed secondary school which also includes a sixth form.
Norfolk Police added the incident was not believed to be linked to a hate crime reported at the school last week, following reports of allegations of antisemitic chanting during a football match involving a Jewish school.
Police had originally reported the arrested boy was 16 years old, but later amended his age to 15.
Police cars outside Thorpe St Andrew High School on the edge of Norwich after a teenage girl was stabbed. Credit: ITV News Anglia
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