New security alert as Great Barr School hit by 'false and malicious' bomb threat

Great Barr School, which has 2,100 students, was the latest to fall victim to a bomb threat, but police said they did not believe it was linked to previous scares.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Deb Edmonds said: "Officers are investigating after a bomb threat was called through to a school in Birmingham this morning.

"Great Barr Comprehensive School received the call just after 8.40am. Pupils have been moved out of the main buildings but remain at the school at this time and officers are currently at the scene.

Schools are right to evacuate once a threat is made – it would be negligent not to take action.

But a failure to nip these absurd occurrences in the bud carries two main risks.

The first is that the education of pupils continues to be disrupted and unnecessary stress is being caused. Secondly, there is a real risk that people become blasé to the situation and miss signs of a real threat.

Those behind these hoaxes do not think through the consequences of their actions. It is good that West Midlands Police acted swiftly to defuse the situation and discredit the threat.

But it is now vital they can bring the person or people behind this to justice.

Regardless of whether it is a teenager who doesn't want to go to school or a sick individual or group, we cannot tolerate those who abuse our freedoms to create panic and chaos unnecessarily.

In today's climate, it is easy to spread fear.

"At this early stage police believe the report to be false and malicious and it is not being linked to previous hoax calls made to schools in the West Midlands area."

The school, which has 2,100 students, is on Aldridge Road and is a specialist science college.

Just before 10am, police said students were returning to lessons.

Headteacher Ingrid Abrahams said: "Before the start of the school day we received a hoax phone call and immediately followed our emergency evacuation procedures.

"West Midlands Police were informed quickly and so was our local primary school (Great Barr Primary).

"Following guidance from the police, staff and students waited in the evacuation area for further instructions.

"By 10am, the police confirmed the building was safe to re-enter and staff and students were back in lessons.

"I would like to thank the students for their maturity and calmness and the staff for their professionalism."