Airport-style security and bag searches needed in Midland schools after teacher's stabbing

Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, aged 61, was due to retire in September and had been working only four days a week before she was fatally injured on Monday at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds.

A 15-year-old boy remains in custody and West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that Mrs Maguire died from multiple stab wounds.

School governors in the West Midlands said today that this case showed the pressing need for increased security to prevent anything similar happening in the area.

It comes after it was revealed earlier this month that 12 children have been excluded from schools in Wolverhampton for going in with weapons. Seven of the cases involved knives. The city's council was the only authority in the Black Country to hold such figures for the past two academic years.

Councillor Elizabeth Walker, former children's services chief in Dudley, is a governor at both Wollescote and St James's primary schools in Dudley and a member of the corporation of Dudley College.

She said: "Weapons are easily available for those who are so disposed to carry one. As the culture grows for stabbings, people may consider it a way to defend themselves.

"There's also so much stress on young people with their emotions, exam pressures and things like cyber bullying to content with.

"Who knows what people can do in that psyche.

"There's a case for airport-style security in some schools. I know it would make some schools look like a fortress for life is more precious.

"This sort of incident is caused by the society in which we live. There is so much aggression in young people too.

"Until there is a deterrent, it will increase.

"It really is awful what has happened in Leeds. It is desperately sad. For the good of children and teachers alike and to bring some sanity back to some schools, I think they need security to ensure they are protected."

If airport-style security were to be introduced in schools, it would not be the first time in this area. Hand-held metal detectors were employed at Phoenix Collegiate Business, Sport and Enterprise College. which is based on two sites in West Bromwich and Wednesbury, when two pupils were excluded for being in possession of a knife in 2012.

Richard Marshall, a former governor of eight years at Perryfields High School, Oldbury, was on the board of governors when a school-wide policy of immediate expulsion was adopted after a boy was reported as showing off a knife to friends at the Oldacre Road school around two years ago.

Mr Marshall, who was also parent governor representative for secondary schools in Sandwell for five years, added: "Children have got to feel confident teachers can deal with these issues if they report them.

"I believe teachers can conduct bag searches under their current powers and in schools where teachers fear this is a genuine issue, they could do that.

"It is far better to be safe than sorry.

"It's awful to hear what's happened in Leeds. If I was still a governor at Perryfields I would be asking that the school reiterated its policy to parents on expulsion for anyone that brought a knife into school in light of these recent events in the national news."

Bob Jones, the police and crime commissioner for the area, said a lot of educational work was being done in schools to show pupils carrying a knife was not a means of defence, but actually put them at great risk.

He said: "We have seen a large reduction in the prevalence of knives and guns but one incident is one too many."

He said it was still under consideration that an ongoing knife 'surrender' scheme in place in Birmingham, could be extended to include Wolverhampton. It would mean the city would be given a so-called surrender bin.

The action came in the wake of several fatal stabbings including that of Christina Edkins on board the number 9 on her way to Leasowes High School on March 7 last year.

Wolverhampton had the highest number of knife crimes of any area in the region in 2013 - 138 between January 1 and December 9.

Surrender bins have already been placed around Lozells, Hockley and Erdington, Birmingham since February.

Specialists collect the weapons that are handed in and dispose of them safely.