Pupil stabbed in school dining room

Police and paramedics were called after the 15-year-old victim was injured with a pocket knife at Our Lady and St John RC High School, Blackburn.

Police said the Year 11 pupil needed several stitches to his eyelid and was treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Head teacher Michael Humphreys said it was a one-off incident and there was no cause for concern about the safety of the other pupils who were in the dining room at the time.

He said: "I was in the dining room when this incident happened and it was dealt with quickly and firmly by myself and my deputy. Those involved were removed immediately and there was no danger to any other pupils."

Mr Humphreys refused to say if any pupils had been suspended following the incident. He said: "The governors have been informed. It has to go before the governors. The procedure takes four or five weeks. I cannot make any further comment on that. "We have had special assemblies for Year 11 pupils since the incident and pointed out very clearly to them what the rules are and warned them of the consequences of any similar incident.

"Anything like this will be effectively dealt with."

Mr Humphreys said he had no evidence to link the matter to an incident in Blackburn town centre two weeks ago in which another pupil was stabbed.

He added: "It happened during a weekend, it did not happen in school, it involved a mixed group of youngsters of a different age to those involved in the latest incident and we have no evidence the suggest the incidents are linked in any way."

Sgt Mark Thackeray, of Blackburn police, said a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and would appear at a youth court later this month charged with wounding.

Sgt Thackeray said: "We don't normally have a lot of trouble at Our Lady and St John's compared to other high schools in the area."

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