Eight-year-old student threatens classmates with knife at Mount Gambier primary school

Terrified parents are demanding answers from their SA primary school after a boy brought a kitchen knife to school and threatened to kill classmates, sending the class into lockdown.

Mount Gambier North Primary school, where parents say a seven-year-old boy threatened classmates with a knife. Picture: Facebook

A regional SA school was forced into lockdown after an eight-year-old boy with a history of behavioural issues brought a knife to school and threatened to kill classmates, a frightened mother says.

The mother, who asked to remain anonymous said the boy brought a “kitchen block carving knife” to Mount Gambier North Primary School – where her daughter attends – on Monday, forcing teachers to launch an immediate “invacuation” – or school lockdown.

She said the boy threatened to kill fellow students – the latest act in a rising series of bullying incidents.

The school has notified parents of an “incident involving a student”.

A spokesperson from the Education Department said on Monday school staff became aware the student had a knife in his bag.

“The bag was confiscated, and as a result the student became upset and behaved inappropriately,” a spokesperson said.

“The student’s family and police were contacted. As a consequence of this behaviour, the student has been suspended.”

SAPOL confirmed police were called to a Mount Gambier Primary School about 1:30pm on Monday in relation to a disturbance.

There were no injuries, and officers spoke to the child in the presence of his parents they said.

Police are working with the school to ensure the ongoing safety of students, staff and parents at the school.

In an email to parents obtained by The Advertiser, principal Sam Griffith said the school had acted immediately to keep staff and students safe.

“Today there was an incident involving a student … The immediate response from the school was an invacuation to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” he wrote.

“Our wellbeing team have checked in on all the students. Should you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact (the principal).”

The email received by parents regarding Monday's incident at Mount Gambier North Primary School. Picture: Supplied

The mother said parents of students directly threatened by the boy were notified their children had been targeted.

In the wake of the terrifying event, the mother said herself and two other parents “don’t feel like (their) children are OK”.

“(We) have asked the wellbeing team to chat and check on our children but (they) haven’t,” she said.

“The classroom teacher has taken a week off due to the stress of the event.”

The mother said that this was not the first time her daughter has been abused by the student who brought the knife to school.

“I have asked for counsellors or pastoral care workers, but the requests has been not fulfilled,” she said.

The Education Department spokesperson said there had been a “significant number of behavioural incidents this year at the school involving this student”.

The mother said the school had “refused” to disclose interventions or a plan for how they intend to support students’ emotional and physical wellbeing in the wake of the event and instead “are working on how and what it looks like for the bully student to return (to school).”

The department spokesperson said a safety plan will be put in place to “best meet the needs of the student … as well as ensuring the safety of the wider school community”.

“The school continues to work closely with parents to best meet the needs of the individual student, and support their learning and wellbeing, as well as ensuring the safety of the wider school community.

“The Department will continue providing management guidance and welfare support to the school and its staff. The school takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff and all students at the school and have acted to ensure safety for everyone.

“They will continue to provide appropriate support and communication to the wider school community.”