Two schoolgirls aged 11 and 13 plunged a NSW school into lockdown when they allegedly attempted to assault a fellow student before turning on four staff members and assaulting a responding police officer.
Police allege about 10.30am on Tuesday the two girls attempted to assault the other student when staff at Armidale Secondary College intervened. The girls allegedly became violent, assaulting four staff members who were left with non-serious injuries.
Armidale Secondary College was plunged into lockdown.Credit: NSW Government
Two staff members were taken to hospital for further treatment. No students were harmed, police said.
When police officers arrived to arrest the two girls, the 13-year-old allegedly assaulted an officer.
During the commotion, a 34-year-old woman arrived at the school and began allegedly verbally assaulting staff and obstructing police. When the woman failed to comply with a move-on direction by officers, she was arrested.
The two girls were released from custody pending further investigation while the woman was charged with refusing to comply with a direction, hinder or resist a police officer during the execution of duty and intimidate a police officer.
The Armidale Secondary College campus opened in 2021. Credit: NSW Government
She will appear before Inverell Local Court later on Tuesday.
A letter sent to parents from Armidale Secondary College principal Kim Allford said the school went into lockdown so staff could handle “a student behaviour matter”.
“An assembly was called to inform all students of what had occurred and support was offered to those who may have been affected emotionally by the incident,” the letter said.
Armidale Secondary College has more than 1000 enrolled students and opened in 2021 when Armidale High School and Duval High School combined under a brand new “super school” campus.
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