Armed Police Swarm Norwich School After Teen Girl Stabbed in Classroom
Exclusive video footage has captured the dramatic moment armed police officers swarmed outside a classroom at Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich, following reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed. The incident unfolded on Wednesday morning, sending terrified pupils into panic as they hid under desks and texted their parents, begging to go home.
Panic and Lockdown as Drama Unfolds
In the newly obtained video, alarmed pupils can be heard repeatedly asking, "What's happening?" as they spot firearms officers moving together outside a classroom window. Schoolchildren were ordered to hide and turn off their phones, while teachers barricaded classroom doors after reports emerged that the girl had been injured. A 15-year-old boy was later arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, with the arrest made just before 10:30am.
Officers raced to the scene at Thorpe St Andrew School on Laundry Lane, as around 100 parents gathered after hearing about the incident on social media. One parent was heard shouting, "Just f*****g let the kids out," while another expressed concern, saying, "If my son is under a table and someone’s coming with a knife, I want him to be aware they’re coming."
Distressing Messages and Police Response
Pupils who made contact with their families sent distressing texts, with one reading, "I am very scared," and another stating they "just want to go home." Police drones were deployed to the scene as officers searched for the suspect, who is thought to have fled after jumping over a fence. It is understood that the suspect was on the run for more than an hour before being apprehended at around 11:30am.
The teenage girl, understood to be a pupil at the school, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. A teacher at the school commented on the lockdown procedure, telling ITV, "One of the things you practice, but never think you'll do."
Parental Anger and School Statement
Parent Adam Howlett expressed his anxiety, saying he had not heard from his daughter despite his son reporting he was still locked in his classroom. He added, "When it comes to your child even minor injuries are terrifying. You don’t expect to come to school and get injured. I’m just waiting to find out some news and put my mind at rest." Another parent, Shantelle Taylor, said she was "absolutely fuming" to learn about the incident through a friend rather than directly from the school.
Thorpe St Andrew School, which was rated Good in its 2025 Ofsted inspection, is an 11-to-18 mixed secondary school that includes a sixth form. A statement from Broad Horizons Education Trust, which runs the school, said, "We have clear procedures in place and our staff acted swiftly, with the whole school going into lockdown with children staying in their classroom with their teacher. One of our students was injured and is now being treated in hospital for minor injuries. This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community and our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened."
Police Investigation and Context
A Norfolk Police spokesperson confirmed, "A boy has been arrested following an incident in Thorpe St Andrew. Police were called to a school on Laundry Lane, Thorpe St Andrew at 10:24am this morning following reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed. Emergency services attended the scene including fire and ambulance. The victim has been taken to hospital with minor injuries. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He has been taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. This incident is not believed to be linked to a hate crime reported at the same school last week."
