Boy, 17, arrested after three people injured at Sheffield school

A teenage boy has been arrested after reports that three people were injured at a secondary school in Sheffield on Wednesday.

South Yorkshire Police officers are responding after reports of an incident involving a sharp object at Birley Academy, previously Birley Community College just before 9am.

Two adults were checked over at the scene after suffering minor injuries. A child was also checked over after being assaulted.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.

The force said: “Police will remain at the scene throughout the day to provide assurances to those in the school and the local community.

“We will provide further updates as and when we can.”

In a message to parents, headteacher Vicky Hall confirmed there had been an "incident" at the school, according to ITV.

She added: "I want to reassure you that all staff and students are safe and well. Emergency services attended immediately and are in attendance. All staff and students are safe.

"I will update you on next steps as soon as I am given guidance from the police. Please do not attend school at the moment."

In a post on X, the school said: "This morning we went into lockdown as a precaution following an incident at the school.

"This was not a decision taken lightly but the safety of students and staff is paramount. All students and staff are safe. We are working closely with the police and will update shortly."

The school later confirmed that the school has since been closed.

In a statement the school added: “The safety of students and staff is paramount and all students and staff are safe.

"Three people were treated for minor injuries at the scene and no one was taken to hospital.

"We would like to praise our staff for their professionalism and our students for the way they responded.

"We continue to work closely with the police and will update as required."

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was "disturbed" to hear about the incident at The Birley Academy.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, she said: "We're in touch with the school and my thoughts are with those injured and all the school community affected by this frightening situation."

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said: "Our thoughts are with the victims of this incident and the rest of the school community at Birley Academy.

"This will be a worrying and traumatic event for staff and pupils and it is important that support is provided to all those who have been affected.

"This latest incident provides a further reminder of the need for robust action to be taken to keep our schools, pupils and teachers safe."

It comes a week after two teachers and a student were injured in an alleged knife attack by a teenage girl at Amman Valley School in South Wales.

The 13-year-old girl, who can not be named for legal reasons, was remanded to youth detention accommodation after being charged with attempted murder.

Pupils at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, in Carmarthenshire, went into lockdown just after 11.20am last Wednesday after the stabbing at the end of morning break.