Schools will strengthen emergency procedures after the stabbing

According to the BBC, a stabbing at a secondary school near Norwich has thrown a spotlight on emergency safety procedures in British schools, raising questions about whether current guidance goes far enough to protect pupils and staff.

Thorpe St Andrew School went into lockdown last Wednesday after a teenage girl was stabbed during mid-morning lessons. Staff ordered pupils under their desks, locked all doors, and cut phone use while armed police swept the site. A 15-year-old boy was arrested nearby and has since been charged with attempted murder. The victim was later discharged from hospital.

The school's response drew on a 60-page Department for Education document covering protective security and emergency planning — guidance Norfolk County Council described as "comprehensive" and said it expected all schools to follow.

But the incident has renewed concerns that the guidance is not enough. Wayne Bates of the NASUWT teachers' union said lockdown procedures are too rarely practised, leaving staff and pupils ill-equipped when a real crisis unfolds.

"If you don't practise something it's very hard to enact it in an emergency situation," he said, arguing schools should run lockdown drills with the same regularity as fire drills. "Because you practise things, people understand what they have to do and respond accordingly."

The DfE guidance requires schools to appoint a head of security to lead incident responses and liaise with police and families, maintain so-called "grab kits" containing registers, medication lists and emergency contacts, and make specific provision for pupils with special educational needs.

Owen Jenkins, chief executive of the Broad Horizons Education Trust, which runs Thorpe St Andrew, praised the response of staff and students. "Throughout a prolonged and understandably distressing situation, staff remained calm, focusing on supporting and protecting the students in their care," he said.

Even where procedures work well, the psychological impact extends well beyond those directly involved. David Trickey, a consultant clinical psychologist and co-director of the UK Trauma Council, warned of a "whole ripple effect" touching other pupils, other schools, and the wider community.

He said children cope best after frightening events when adults help them feel safe, connected, and capable — and noted that reactions including intrusive memories, difficulty sleeping, and heightened anxiety were normal in the aftermath.

Bates expressed hope that Martyn's Law — the government's legislative response to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing — would bring clearer and stronger obligations for venues including schools. The DfE has been approached for comment.