MORETON Morrell College is the third educational establishment in south Warwickshire to be forced into lockdown in as many weeks
The college took lockdown measures following a threat to one of its students on Thursday morning (May 4).
It reported on its Facebook page: “We have made the decision to lockdown Moreton Morrell College following a threat to one of our students. We moved the students from their teaching classroom as a precaution and called the police.
“All students and staff are safe.
“We clearly do not know at this stage if this is just a threat.”
A reliable source told the Observer the threat came from a boyfriend of one of the students who planned to come onto the college campus with a gun.
Police arrived at the college at just before 1pm and staff liaised with officers on the most appropriate next steps.
Police and staff jointly decided to lift the lockdown after two hours. Staff and students were free to move about as normal and the entrances to the college were re-opened.
The college reported the student who received the threat had safely left the site and staff would continued to be extra vigilant, while additional members of the Estates team were on site for the remainder of the day.
A spokesperson for Warwickshire Police said they had been made aware of a report of a malicious communication being sent to a pupil at Moreton Morrell College shortly before 10am this morning (Thursday).
The spokesperson added the individual concerned was already known to them and there was not believed to be a wider risk to the public at this time.
The lockdown at Moreton Morrell College follows two south Warwickshire secondary schools being locked down last month.
Masked intruders and a disruptive student saw both Kineton High School and Stratford School require the intervention of Warwickshire Police, as well as leading to the education of hundreds of pupils being disrupted.
Kineton High School went into lockdown and armed police were called after three masked youths entered the grounds on Wednesday April 19.
Officers were called at just after 10.15am and pupils were kept inside the school and told to hide under their desks as a precaution while the intruders were traced.
Following a search of the school grounds officers seized a bag containing a knife.
A 15-year-old boy from Southam was arrested at his home on Thursday April 20 on suspicion of possession of a blade.
He was later bailed while enquiries continue.
And police were called to Stratford School to deal with a “distruptive” student on Tuesday April 18.
The student was reportedly drunk and armed with a knife – though the school has been quick to quash these rumours.
Warwickshire Police confirmed it had been called to the school at 2.10pm on Tuesday April 18 and a 16-year-old boy was spoken to.
