A HORRIFIED mum has told of the moment she was told her son was allegedly threatened with a knife by a pupil who said he would "slit his throat and cut him up."
The mother, who did not want to be named and whose nine-year-old son and three other siblings all go to Christ Church Academy in Windhill, Shipley, said she was still reeling from the chilling call she got from school.
On Tuesday, the Telegraph & Argus reported how a primary school pupil had been temporarily excluded for taking a knife into the school playground in Wrose Brow Road that morning.
Carol Dewhurst, the chief education officer of the Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust which runs the school, had said it was a teacher who was first to spot the penknife and at no point were any pupils at risk.
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But the mother of the threatened boy has since contacted the T&A to say her child was in real danger and it was her older son, stood in another line nearby, who saw the knife first and alerted a teacher - stopping an attack.
"I got a call from school and the lady said the boy who has been bullying my son had pulled a knife out and threatened him. I was just so shocked. I felt sick at what could have happened, he could have ended up in a hospital bed or worse. I went to school with all guns blazing as any mother would. You want to know why your child has not been safe in school," she said.
PRIMARY PUPIL EXCLUDED FOR TAKING KNIFE INTO SCHOOL
And added: "In my son's words, the boy said to him 'I'm going to slit your throat and cut you up'. If it wasn't for my other son seeing and hearing what was happening with the knife, I don't know what would have happened next. It's unthinkable. My son was at serious risk and so were other people's children. This boy can not be allowed back."
The mother from Shipley has been keeping all four of her children away from school seeking an assurance from Christ Church that the boy who had the knife would not be back after the Bank Holiday.
"I have been happy with the school until now and with the teachers and how they have handled this incident so far but if that boy is allowed back I will have to find another school for my children. As a mother whose children are my everything, how could I do anything else?"
A statement from Christ Church earlier this week said the boy had been temporarily excluded and police were investigating. Police have confirmed officers have since given advice to the boy and his parents but because he is under the age of criminal responsibility, no further action will be taken. Bradford Council would not comment on its involvement in the case.
Christ Church Academy is conducting a full investigation in to the event in conjunction with other agencies, in line with the school safeguarding policy. "We have no further comments at this point," said Ms Dewhurst.
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