Parents take children out of Coseley school amid knife rumours

Education chiefs have strongly denied the claim made by some parents at Hurst Hill Primary School in Coseley.

It follows similar action on Thursday, when police were called to the site after 10am to find out why parents had gathered outside.

The parents say their children told them a pupil had brought a knife in on Wednesday, which the school has categorically denied.

Tensions were running high because it follows the fatal stabbing of school teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds earlier this week.

Hurst Hill's chairman of governors, Councillor Susan Ridney, was said to have met with parents at the gates yesterday morning, together with headteacher Caroline Dingle.

Mrs Dingle said: "A number of parents withdrew their children from yesterday due to allegations made about incidents at school. I would like to reassure parents that the allegations are totally without evidence.

"I would also like to remind parents that they have a legal duty to send their children to school."

Karl Stevens, aged 45, of Hurst Hill, was one of those who took his seven-year-old daughter out of lessons at around 9.15am.

He said: "I went to pick my daughter up on Wednesday and was told by another parent that a pupil had brought in a knife.

"We came to school and wanted answers. The head and chair of governors have denied that it happened but we are not satisfied with their answer.

"We don't want our children in the school while this pupil is there."

He added: "Unfortunately, there is going to be a tragic incident before something is done and I'm not prepared to wait for that."

Some of the parents said they were prepared to carry on keeping their children out of lessons until the issue was resolved.

Mr Stevens said: "We are filling our legal obligation by sending our children to school. They are denying them an education because it is not safe for them here."

Kim Walters, aged 31, from Coseley, added: "They are emotional wrecks. They don't want to return back to school."

Inspector Julie Mason, from Dudley police station, said: "Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team visited Hurst Hill Primary School this morning due to concerns from parents following a report that a pupil was found to have a penknife in their possession.

"However, there was no evidence to support this suggestion – which is believed to be nothing more than a rumour – and no further action was taken by police."