Adelaide High student arrested after school goes into emergency lockdown

A 14-year-old student has been arrested after Adelaide High School was sent into emergency lockdown earlier on Wednesday.

An Adelaide High School student was arrested after a “critical incident” that sent the school into an emergency lockdown on Wednesday.

Police were called to a disturbance at the school and later charged a 14-year-old student with property damage, citing multiple broken windows.

A student who wished to remain anonymous said the incident lasted about five minutes.

“It was so weird, they did an actual lockdown, put the library barrier down and made us get into a room,” the student said.

A student has been arrested after Adelaide High went into lockdown on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“Teachers were scared and no one knew what was happening.”

The school referred inquiries to the Education Department.

“Adelaide High School was placed into a short lockdown today in response to an incident with a student,” the department said in a statement.

“SA Police were advised and attended the school. In keeping with the school’s normal procedures parents were advised of the lockdown.

“No one was injured, and all students and staff resumed their normal schedule within 15 minutes.

“Support is being offered to staff and students who may have been affected.”

The Advertiser reported in June that the number of violent attacks in South Australian schools was at a three-year high – equating to more than 50 each week – amid concerns the Covid-19 pandemic has eroded relationships on campuses.

That included incidents between students and also those involving parents, staff and community members.

The figure was up almost 17 per cent on the number of acts of violence in SA schools in 2019, before the pandemic emerged.

In May, school violence was thrust into the spotlight when video circulated of a 16-year-old Whyalla Secondary College girl being attacked.A 15-year-old girl was charged over the alleged “kick and stomp” incident, and hours later, a second video emerged of two young boys fighting in the school’s corridors.

In May last year, Adelaide High came under fire when social media posts from a girl who identified herself as a student there reference to an alleged “rape culture” within the school community.

A letter was sent out to parents and carers by school principal Cezanne Green with reference to allegations of sexual harassment involving students.

Ms Green condemned sexual harassment and inappropriate behvaviour and said neither is acceptable nor tolerated at the school.