Catton Grove Primary School pupil brought knife to class

Headteacher, Catherine Lorne, said the item was "immediately removed"

A primary pupil who brought a knife into a school faces "serious sanction", a head teacher said.

In a letter to parents, Catton Grove Primary School, in Norwich, confirmed "a prohibited item" was seized from a pupil.

Head teacher, Catherine Lorne, said the item was "immediately removed" after being brought to the attention of staff.

Norfolk Police confirmed the school had reported a knife incident to the force.

A parent told the BBC his child and "a few other children" saw a kitchen knife.

"And it wasn't a small knife either," he said.

'They felt unsafe at the park'

In her letter, the head continued: "The school takes safety very seriously and as such we have attached a serious sanction for the child for bringing in a prohibited item."

She also explained more about the circumstances leading to the child bringing a knife onto the premises.

She said they reported being threatened and bullied following an incident at a local park involving high school children a week prior.

The child brought the knife into school after telling their friend "they felt unsafe at the park and had it to feel safer for the next time they went to the park if they came across the same children behaving like that to them again".

Mrs Lorne said she had notified children's services at Norfolk County Council and would be passing on all the information gathered about the incident at the park to the local high school and the police.

Norfolk Police said in a statement: "Officers are carrying out enquiries after a pupil was seen in possession of a knife at Catton Grove Primary School in Norwich on Monday 4 March 2024.

"Staff at the school made police aware after seizing the knife. No one was injured and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."

Catton Grove held a special assembly on Tuesday for the children to discuss safety issues in the community and what to do if they felt unsafe.

The headteacher said they had dealt with the situation with "honesty, maturity and compassion".

Norfolk County Council and the school have been approached for further comment.

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