Primary school put on LOCKDOWN after ‘armed stranger tries to break in’

A PRIMARY school was put into lockdown after reports an armed stranger tried to break in.

Police were called to Wroughton Junior School in Swindon this morning after concerns were raised.

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Lessons were suspended but police say no children nor teachers were harmed.

Staff at nearby Ridgeway Secondary School first issued the alert to counterparts at Wroughton Junior, leading to the lockdown.

Wiltshire Police attended just after 9am and arrested a woman in her 30s on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting an emergency worker.

The force said the woman is thought to have been suffering from a mental heath crisis and was now receiving “appropriate care”.

School lessons later returned to normal, with staff working to reassure children about their safety.

Swindon Police temporary superintendent Joseph Saunders said: “The public can expect to see an increased police presence at both schools today.

“Officers quickly responded and arrested a woman at the scene.

“For reassurance, there is no ongoing threat to pupils and staff at the school.”

South Swindon MP and former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said: “I am extremely concerned to hear about the incident at Wroughton Junior School this morning.

“I have received an update from Wiltshire Police and I am confident that the matter is being handled correctly.

“I am reassured that there is no current threat to the safety of pupils and staff.”

School staff have been praised for their response.

Ridgeway head Adrian Cush said: “Whilst this may be concerning for all of us as a community, our school systems and members of staff reacted in a prompt professional way ensuring the safety of the whole school community.

“It is normal protocol for any school to practise similar scenarios and this training ensured the response of the staff was prompt, caring and professional.”

Ashley Barrington-Wilding, headteacher of Wroughton Junior School, said: “We can confirm that we initiated our lockdown procedure just after 9am following a call from the Ridgeway School.

“All staff and children are safe and school has continued as normal.”