Secondary school due to reopen after pupil stabbed

A secondary school is due to reopen a day after a pupil was stabbed.

Pupils and staff followed lockdown procedures, which involved barricading doors, hiding under desks and closing blinds, and a 15-year-old boy was arrested.

Principal Penny Bignell said it had been an "incredibly traumatic day" but she hoped pupils would benefit from their routine returning to normal.

A letter sent to parents on Wednesday evening said: "When something like this happens, routines and normality are helpful, and so school will be open as normal tomorrow at 8am.

"However, if you as a family wish to support your child at home we will respect this choice."

The principal explained that both the police and a support team from the local authority would be on site to "reassure students, staff and the wider community".

She added: "It will take time for us all to understand and process what has happened, and clearly we will be working closely with the police to support their investigation."

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Pupils in the school had been told to turn off their phones and hide under their desks, and armed police were seen inside the school.

The incident, from about 10:25 GMT, also led to emergency procedures being activated elsewhere.

Cecil Gowing Infant School in Sprowston, about three miles away, wrote to parents to inform them while it did not enter a full lockdown it did keep children inside the school until it had more information.

By 12:45, children were allowed outside to play again.

Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman described the incident as "deeply concerning and truly harrowing".

The Conservative MP said his thoughts were with the victim, adding: "The scourge of knife crime and stabbing which we have seen in London is not something we want to see on the streets of Norwich or any part of Norfolk."