Kingswood South Public School: Principal calls for knife bag checks

A primary principal has called on parents to check their child’s school bag to ensure they are not bringing blades to class. It follows an incident earlier this month.

A primary school principal is calling on parents to check their child’s bag before they leave home to ensure they are not carrying knives or other blades.

Sandra Martin, of Kingswood South Public School, issued the warning after a child was found with a knife in her backpack after making threats earlier this month.

The girl has since been suspended and the school is following up with police.

“I ask all parents and carers to please check your child’s school bag and ensure that they are not bringing any implements to school that could cause injury to themselves or others,” Miss Martin said in a letter to parents.

Pictured is the outside of Kingswood South Public School at Kingswood in Western Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

Titled “Incident at school,” the letter continued: “We had a student make a verbal threat to another student in their class.

“The student reported the threat to the class teacher who promptly dealt with the issue.

“Upon investigation a small pocket knife was discovered in the child’s bag...

“The school is following up with the Police Liaison Officer to talk with our students about how to stay safe at school and about the law surrounding bringing knives to school.

“I understand that this matter may have upset some students and if your child is impacted please contact the school for support.”

On Monday a Department of Education spokesperson told the Penrith Press a female student at Kingswood South Public School had been found in possession of a pocket knife the previous week.

The student has since been suspended.

“Last week, Kingswood South Public School students told a teacher another student had a knife in her bag,” a department spokesperson said.

“The teacher determined there was a pocket knife in the student’s bag.

“The student did not take the knife out of her bag and threaten others.

“No one was injured during this incident.

“The student was suspended in line with department policy.”

It comes after a parent on the Penrith Area Mums Facebook page described her son coming home “upset and scared” following the incident.

NSW Police said they had not received any reports about the incident.

A 14-year-old student was arrested at a high school in Glenwood after an alleged stabbing incident. Picture: 7 NEWS

Last week, the NSW Government banned students from bringing knives to schools, even for religious reasons, after a teen was allegedly stabbed with a Sikh dagger known as a kirpan.

A 14-year-old Glenwood High School boy allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old classmate earlier this month, prompting debate over a “legal loophole” that allowed Sikh children to take sharpened daggers to class despite knives being banned in schools.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell announced the sweeping ban on knives in schools last week.

“Weapons are not permitted at NSW public schools,” she said.

“A recent incident made it clear there are discrepancies in the act permitting the carrying of knives for religious purposes on school grounds. This is not necessary in our schools.”