West Bromwich school lockdown: Pupils praised for 'exceptional' behaviour as 'group of youths' tried to enter

Police were called to Clarkes Lane, where Phoenix Collegiate secondary school is located, to reports of a disorder at about 2.50pm on Thursday (December 19).

The school was placed in lockdown conditions with pupils temporarily unable to leave the site.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Officers attended and spoke to the group, which then dispersed. No weapons were seen and no-one was injured."

The school later released pupils but a notice to parents was seen on its website just before 4pm which said police remained nearby.

The notice said: "The lockdown is now over, and students are being released. For the safety and security of everyone, please be aware that a continued police presence will remain on-site until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation."

In a letter later issued to parents and released on the school's website, headteacher Mike Smith confirmed the disorder did not involve any Phoenix Collegiate pupils.

He added that a "group of youths" had "attempted to enter" the site at 3pm which prompted the school to go into lockdown and alerted staff to phone the police.

Mr Smith wrote: "My concern as always was the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and wider community.

"A large police presence quickly arrived on scene... Our students followed the procedure as trained and throughout the whole episode were safely housed in our school buildings.

"At just after 3.35pm, I was asked by police to lift the lockdown and allow the students to leave site."

The headteacher went on to praise pupils for their behaviour during the lockdown procedure.

"A number of parents did turn up at school and demand that we allow their children to leave.

"Could I just remind all parents that when we go into lockdown no child will be allowed out of school until it is safe to do so?

"I will be now picking this matter up with the local councillors and MPs... I will not have this incident being associated with Phoenix – it was not our students causing trouble. 

"Our children behaved exceptionally well in school despite being unable to leave for over 20 minutes."