School caretaker taken to hospital after ‘outburst’

Probe launched and pastoral staff ‘offer reassurance’ to pupils

Paramedics were called to a secondary school after a caretaker started “behaving erratically” in front of shocked pupils.

Staff at the Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford rang for an ambulance after the incident on Friday lunchtime.

It happened just days after the school was inspected by Ofsted.

Reports from parents that the incident involved a knife have not been confirmed.

Other reports suggest the staff member was dismantling old furniture when the “sudden and unexpected” outburst took place.

Head teacher Susanne Staab sent an email to parents and carers after the incident, which she said was handled safely by lunchtime duty staff.

In her message, she said: “During the lunch hour today, a member of our staff was suddenly and unexpectedly taken very poorly and started to behave erratically.

“This was witnessed by some of our students, who reported it to staff.

“Lunchtime duty staff arrived on scene very promptly and dealt with the incident swiftly and sensitively.

“Some of our students who witnessed the incident did speak to our pastoral staff, who offered reassurance.

“An ambulance was called and the member of staff was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Please be assured that the school will take appropriate action to follow up.”

The school has this week broken up for the Easter holidays but Ms Staab said the incident is being investigated by the school.

She would not give any further details about what happened but added that the caretaker was the only person hurt.

Ambulance service spokesman Rich Airey said one crew was sent to the school at 1.20pm to care for a teenage man, who was taken to the William Harvey Hospital.

The controversy follows a row at the same school a fort- night ago when an email was sent out to sixth-formers telling those who felt ill to “suck it up, cupcake” and get into school rather than miss crucial lessons.

‘A member of our staff was suddenly and unexpectedly taken very poorly’

Head teacher Susanne Staab said the incident at Norton Knatchbull School was dealt with ‘swiftly and sensitively’