Wingham High School knife lockdown: NSW teacher worried ‘somebody is going to get killed’

A Mid-North Coast teacher has spoken up after police swarmed a school when reports emerged of a terrifying incident involving teachers being threatened by a knife-wielding boy as horrified students watched on.

Wingham High School. Picture: Janine Watson

A Mid-North Coast teacher has spoken out in the wake of a terrifying incident involving police swarming a town looking for a knife-wielding teen as hundreds of students walked to various venues on a busy sports day.

The teacher – who asked to remain anonymous to avoid being sacked – aired concerns after the chaos outside Wingham High School on Tuesday. It’s understood the teachers, a man and woman, were allegedly threatened with a large knife as a teen demanded the return of a smaller blade, while horrified children watched on.

The teacher said herself and colleagues in the area dealt with threats of violence every day and knives were a key problem.

“Knives in particular – kids sharpening school ID cards, bringing blades to school – you’re never quite sure what to expect,” the long-serving educator said.

Wingham High School. Picture: Janine Watson

She was hesitant to speak out, telling this publication her job could be “terminated immediately”, but said she had no choice and did so to raise awareness of the issue.

“This is what we (teachers) face everyday, all day. It’s increasing and it’s not OK,” she said.

“Somebody is going to get killed.”

Teachers were accompanying students on their way to sports when they were threatened about 2pm, it’s understood.

Police were called after the Rowley St school became aware of a potential threat.

A resident living near the school said students often mill around in numbers “like Brown’s cows”, which was the situation when the alarm was raised.

Police allege a 14-year-old boy is the culprit.

Teachers leaving ‘hand over fist’

The woman said teachers were leaving the profession “hand over fist”.

She said addressing increasingly violent behaviour was complex, but teachers’ lack of authority was a key element.

“What can we do to them? What can we say when magistrates let them out? And government policy says to keep them at school and reduce suspensions,” she said.

NSW Police and the Department of Education have been contacted about both the incident and concerns raised.

Limited details have been released and children accused of or found guilty of crimes cannot legally be publicly identified.

Police confirmed officers responded after “a man and woman were allegedly threatened by a young person with a knife” on Rowley St.

They arrested the boy “a short time later on Keech St”, a spokesman said.

Wingham Brush primary school was also placed into lockdown. Picture: Janine Watson

The accused boy has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of going armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and using a knife in a public place causing a person to fear for their safety.

He was refused bail to face Children’s Court on Wednesday. The outcome has not been made clear.

A court representative explained local registrars may be reluctant to release the outcome of cases involving children, despite their identities routinely being subject to an automatic legislated publication restraint.

Only a matter of time

Jorja Bailey, a resident of Combined St near the Wingham school, not far from Taree, earlier said her brother attended the school and the community was on edge after the “scary” incident.

“We heard the intercom and voices over the speakers and the lockdown siren. I had a feeling it was something like what happened. With the way the school is, it was only a matter of time before someone got hurt.”

A parent also living in the area, who asked not to be named, said she believed nearby Wingham Brush Primary School was also placed in lockdown.

A boy has been charged. Picture: File

Numerous questions were put to the department about the incident. The department was also asked about a supposed rapid turnover of senior staff at the school in recent times, involving two new deputies and a principal this year alone.

The department was also asked what support had and would be given to teachers.

A spokesperson said: “A brief school lockdown occurred yesterday as a precaution during a police operation in the surrounding area. Support is available to those affected.”
“As the alleged incident is the subject of court proceedings we are unable to further comment,” a statement read.

Schools in NSW can access specific assistance for students requiring behavioural support.

It comes as the state passed Jack’s Law in recent weeks, allowing police to implement ‘wanding’ to detect knives without a warrant in designated public spaces.

Premier Chris Minns said at the time “we have all borne witness to the devastating outcomes of knife related violence” and the state “will simply not accept these kinds of crimes”.

 

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