Other MoA event in Norwich, Thorpe St Andrew School area, United Kingdom on Wed 11th March 2026

Boy, 16, arrested after girl is stabbed at school

Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy after a teenage girl was stabbed at a secondary school.

The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the incident at Thorpe St Andrew School, near Norwich, on Wednesday.

Pupils were told to switch off their phones and hide under their desks when the school was put into lockdown at about 10:25 GMT, the BBC has been told.

Norfolk Police said the boy was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after searches of the area.

He was taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Laundry Lane remained shut in the aftermath of the incident, while images circulated on social media showed armed officers searching the school.

About 150 parents gathered at the school gates as they awaited news on their children, some of whom had messaged to say they were scared and hiding in classrooms.

In an email to parents, the school confirmed the victim was a pupil and said it "went into full lockdown, with all children staying in their classroom with their teacher".

The school announced it would close at 13:00, and students began to emerge about a few minutes later.

Sixteen-year-old Letizia was in a maths class when it was decided everyone should barricade the classroom door.

"I thought at first it could be a drill, but then we started locking everything and I saw the teachers walking through the corridors," she said.

"Everyone then started to panic."

Letizia found out about what happened after seeing it on the news.

She said: "It's so upsetting something happened at school. It's a good school, but this was very weird."

Her father, Leon, 35, who rushed to the scene, added: "The police couldn't tell us anything. You are standing there in the dark."

Genevieve, a trusted adult of a 17-year-old student, was one of the people who headed to the scene.

"They were all really frightened. All the blinds had been closed," she said of the pupils.

"Even the teacher in her classroom is under the desks with them and they aren't leaving.

"I think we are all feeling a bit sick inside. We just want to have cuddles and know everyone is all right."

Alice MacDonald, the Labour MP for Norwich North, said the stabbing was both "incredibly serious and deeply alarming".

Posting on X, external, she wrote: "Immediately, we need to give the police time to ensure that everyone at the school is safe.

"My thoughts are with all of them and their families, especially the victim who has been taken to hospital."

The MP said her office was trying to learn what had happened.

Police said they did not believe the incident was linked to an antisemitic hate crime reported at the same school on Thursday.

The school, which was rated Good in its 2025 Ofsted inspection, is thought to be Norfolk's largest, and also has a sixth form.

According to the Department for Education, it has 1,834 pupils.

Owen Jenkins, chief executive of the Broad Horizons Education Trust which runs the school, said: "This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community.

"Our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened."

East of England Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.