School locked down, teacher injured after student pulls out knife

A teacher has been injured and a prominent school in Sydney’s west locked down after a student pulled out a knife, with other students sharing how the incident unfolded.

Chifley College-Dunheved Campus at St Marys.

A western Sydney teen has shared how she hid inside a classroom after another student pulled out a knife at school, leaving a teacher injured and the school in lockdown.

Chifley College Dunheved campus in St Marys was placed into lockdown and the police called about 1.30pm after reports a student had a knife.

Year 10 student Jakayla Clegg was moving between classes when she saw the younger student, believed to be in Year 7, holding a knife.

“(The student) was coming in my direction, and I just ran up the stairs and hid in a classroom,” she said.

“We got locked inside of a classroom, and a few teachers came in to make sure we didn’t leave.”

Chifley College Dunheved in the aftermath of the lockdown. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Ms Clegg’s mother Lesley Ellingsworth was out of the house when she got a text from her daughter about the incident.

“I got a message that just said ‘Mum, I’m scared,’” Ms Ellingsworth said. “That’s when she said, ‘there’s someone with a knife.’”

Chifley College Dunheved campus student Jakayla Clegg (right) witnessed the student pull out a knife. She is pictured with mum Lesley Ellingsworth. Picture: Nicholas Finch

“I was ringing the school, and there was just no tone at all,” Ms Ellingsworth said.

“Nothing’s ever happened like that up at that school... I was panicking, worried.”

The school was then placed into lockdown for an hour, with police called to the scene but in a statement the school said “all students and staff are safe”.

A staff member sustained a cut as they tried to confiscate the knife and was treated at the scene by paramedics, while the student was taken to hospital for assessment under police guard.

No students were injured during the incident, and were allowed to leave the campus once the lockdown ended.

Students were allowed to leave after the campus was locked down for an hour. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Police are now investigating the incident but it’s understood no charges are expected to be laid and the incident is being treated as mental health-related by authorities.

Ms Ellingsworth called for metal detectors to be installed in school campuses.

“I think all schools should get them in, with what’s happening lately,” she said. “If it’s safe for the children to attend school, by all means, get them in.”

The Dunheved high school for junior students in Years 7 to 10 is one of five campuses that comprise the Chifley College network of Western Sydney schools.

The school has appeared in the headlines before, when vision of former student Casey Heynes fighting back against a school bully went viral around the world in 2011.

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said she was “deeply concerned” to learn a staff member had been injured in the incident.

“No one should be taking knives to school, and if they do then the police will be called,” she said.”Our schools should be safe for all staff and students and my thoughts go to the school community and anyone affected.”A Department of Education spokesperson said safety is “our number one priority”.“Staff acted swiftly to ensure the safety of students during an incident at Chifley College, Dunheved Campus,” the statement read.

“Police were immediately notified, and supports were made available for affected students and staff.”