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Teacher ‘recovering well’ after being stabbed at school

A teenage boy is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after a male teacher was attacked at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire.

Jacob Phillips
Tuesday 11 July 2023 05:38 EDT
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone, of Gloucestershire Police, said the teacher concerned was making a good recovery (Rod Minchin/PA)
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone, of Gloucestershire Police, said the teacher concerned was making a good recovery (Rod Minchin/PA) (PA Wire)

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A popular teacher who was stabbed in a school corridor is “recovering well” after leaving hospital, his secondary school has said.

A teenage boy is being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after a male teacher was attacked at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire just after 9am on Monday.

The academy was locked down and two neighbouring schools were also asked to shut their doors as a “precaution”, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Police said.

The school said it reopened on Tuesday following careful assessment and consultation with the police.

A Tewkesbury Academy spokesperson said: “We feel it is important for our students to be able to return to a sense of normality in their school, where we will be providing a range of additional mental and emotional support for students and staff.”

The teacher, who was earlier said to be in a stable condition, was discharged from hospital on Monday evening, police confirmed – while the suspect remains in custody.

He was taken to hospital with a single stab wound after being attacked at the school on Monday.

The school spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm the Tewkesbury colleague injured in yesterday’s incident has been discharged from hospital and is recovering well.

“He has expressed his gratitude for the many positive messages he has received.

“All of us at Tewkesbury Academy are grateful for the support we have received from our community and colleagues from across our trust and from the wider education sector.

“We also want to thank officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary for their invaluable help and reassurance.

“And finally, huge thanks to all Tewkesbury colleagues for their calm and professionalism during an incredibly difficult day, and our students and their families for their patience, resilience and support.

“We look forward to continuing to support each other, while focusing again on providing a high-quality education to the young people of Tewkesbury.”

The school said there will be a police presence at the school for the coming days to provide reassurance.

A teenager, from Tewkesbury, allegedly fled the scene and was arrested by armed officers in the nearby Stoke Orchard area at 11am.

A knife has been recovered.

Speaking to reporters outside the school on Monday afternoon, Mr Ocone said: “At this stage, the motivation behind the attack is unclear but at this time there is no evidence to suggest it is terrorism-related.”

Tewkesbury Academy, a state secondary school for 11 to 18-year-olds, is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust responsible for a number of academies in the South West of England.

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