Pictures from scene after teacher stabbed at Tewkesbury School

The man was taken to hospital with a suspected stab wound after Tewkesbury School in Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury, was placed on lockdown.

Gloucestershire Police said officers were called at about 9.10am on Monday to reports a pupil had stabbed a teacher – with a teenage boy later arrested.

In a statement to the parents and carers of pupils, headteacher Kathleen McGillycuddy said: “We appreciate that this morning has been a worrying time for all associated with Tewkesbury Academy.”

She added: “We were alerted shortly before 9am this morning to reports of a serious incident which left a male member of staff in need of hospital treatment.

“The school was locked down and police were called immediately when we became aware of this incident.”

The South Western Ambulance Service was called at 9.08am and the man was driven to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Emergency services at Tewkesbury School which has been locked down after a teenage boy was arrested following reports a pupil stabbed a teacher - photos by Ben Birchall, PA Wire (Image: Ben Birchall, PA Wire)

In her statement, Ms McGillycuddy said the lockdown “remains in place as a precaution” but “all pupils remain safe and well”.

A crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the school after the stabbing and uniformed officers stood on duty at its entrances.

Tewkesbury Academy, a mixed comprehensive secondary school for 11 to 18 year olds, is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust responsible for a number of academies in the South West of England.

Earlier on Monday, teachers at the nearby Tirlebrook Primary School posted on Facebook to say their school had also been locked down on police advice and urged parents not to attend.

Erica Farley, who has a child attending Tewkesbury Academy, told the PA news agency: “As an ex-emergency services member, this is a very sad and worrying time for Tewkesbury School.

“As a parent, I am obviously concerned for my son, but very happy in the knowledge that the staff at the school and the police have provided an incredible response in keeping our children safe and have brought this to a swift conclusion.

“It is worrying that these things can happen in any school and all the more important that as parents we take responsibility for teaching our children awareness of the destructive nature of this type of incident.

“As a family, our thoughts go out to the teacher concerned and hope for a speedy recovery.”

Rishi Sunak’s thoughts are with those impacted by the incident at a school in Tewkesbury, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It is a live investigation, but the Prime Minister’s thoughts are with the individual who has been injured and with the staff and pupils of the school who would obviously be extremely concerned.

“He wants to thank the police and emergency services for their ongoing response.”

The leader of a headteachers’ union has described the stabbing of a teacher at Tewkesbury Academy as “appalling”.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “While we are not aware of the details of what has happened, this is clearly an appalling incident and the teacher concerned and all affected are in our thoughts and prayers.”