Pupil tells of ‘scary’ school lockdown in third incident
A pupil at a Bath school that was placed under emergency lockdown for hours has described just how ‘scary’ the incident was.
St Gregory’s Catholic College, on Combe Hay Lane, was in an ‘amber’ lockdown over what was initially an unspecified incident in the school’s car park.
Avon and Somerset police later said this was a ‘concern for welfare’ incident and headteacher Ann Cusack said no students were at risk during the lockdown, which lasted from about 9 to 11am on Wednesday, March 11.
But a pupil and their mother claim this is the third time in a week that police have been to St Gregory’s and Avon and Somerset police said they have been to the school three times in March for ‘related incidents.’
The force said its neighbourhood policing team would continue to visit the school.
One pupil has described her alarming lockdown experience.
The pupil, who spoke to us with her parents’ permission, said police had searched “all around the school” the day before the lockdown.
Police were already at St Gregory’s by the time the pupil, who has not been named to protect her identity, arrived on Wednesday (March 11).
She added: “I was nearly locked out of my classroom as I was almost late but the teacher opened the door for me. We practise a lockdown once a year.
“On Wednesday we put down the blinds, locked the door and put paper under the classroom door.
“We then went and read and did some colouring for a bit during the lockdown.
“The school made us feel safe. On Wednesday it lasted for a couple of hours.
“It was scary to be involved with it though. Police have been to the school three times in a week.”
The pupil’s mother, who also has not been named to protect her child’s identity, said the school had not got on top of this if the police had been called three times in around a week.
She said she had heard reports of someone with a weapon on school property - both police and the school say this was not the case.
“This is the third time police have been to the school in a week,” said the worried mum.
“I don’t know why this happened again and why it has been kept quiet.
“I am very concerned for my child’s and other pupils’ safety.
“I want the school to do more to assure me that my child and other kids are safe.”
An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: “No weapon was used. As the school confirmed, no pupils were harmed or put in any danger,.
“We have been called to the school three times during March to related incidents, of which yesterday’s (March 11) was the third.
“Our neighbourhood team will continue visiting the area over the next few days.”
When asked for comment, St Gregory’s directed us to Bath and North East Somerset Council.
The council said the incident was dealt with by the school and it had no further comment.
The lockdown lasted for more than two hours and during that time the police and ambulance service were called.
Staff and pupils at the school were told to remain in classrooms at the school while the incident unfolded.
Parents were told not to contact the school unless in an emergency.
On the day of the lockdown, the headteacher said: “No students were at risk during this lockdown.
“I would like to thank everyone for their support.”
Normal classes resumed following the lockdown, the school said.
A school trip to the Black Country Museum in Birmingham went ahead as planned and was not affected by the incident.