Chase headteacher praises staff and students after knife attack - The Malvern Observer

Chase headteacher praises staff and students after knife attack

Malvern Editorial 11th Sep, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A HEADTEACHER has praised staff and students at his school after a teacher and a pupil were attacked with a knife.

The incident happened about 8.45am on Monday (September 8) during registration at The Chase.

An attacker carrying a long-bladed weapon allegedly entered a classroom with a scarf across his face and assaulted a teacher before targeting a girl pupil, 13, before leaving. Both victims sustained minor injuries but returned to school the day after (Tuesday).

CCTV captured a suspect leaving the school sparking a large police manhunt including a helicopter search over the Malvern Hills.




Fears remained the attacker was still in the school which was searched thoroughly by police while pupils were kept in their lessons for an extra hour.

About 40 officers were deployed to the operation and police maintained a heavy presence at The Chase throughout the day to reassure pupils and staff, although many parents came to collect their children within hours of the incident.


Headteacher Richard Jacobs commended police, district and county council staff for their ‘exceptional support’.

He said: “It was a very distressing day for everyone.

“Our thoughts and prayers have been with everyone who was directly involved in the incident and we are relieved that they are able to join us as we return to normal school life.

“Students showed their usual high level of maturity and remained calm at all times.

“The school received an incredible level of support from our local community, which is exactly what you expect from the people of Malvern.

“Parents were obviously very concerned about what had happened and were patient with us as we sought to allay their fears.”

About 5pm on Monday, police arrested a 13-year-old boy on a train heading to Hereford, in connection with the incident.

He has since been charged with 13 offences; one count of causing grievous bodily harm, one count of causing actual bodily harm, one charge of threatening a person with a knife, five counts of carrying a knife in a public place and five further charges of carrying a knife in an educational establishment.

The teenager appeared at Youth Court on Tuesday and will face his next hearing at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday, September 18.

Police continued a high presence at the school the day after the incident as further reassurance to pupils and staff. Counselling has also been made available to all students.

Supt Mark Travis said: “Fortunately, incidents like this are very rare and we will work hard over the coming weeks to understand the circumstances around this case.”

Anyone with information on the incident should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting the reference 0087s of September 8.

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