Staffordshire school in lockdown after man seen wandering grounds
A school is reported to have gone into lockdown after a man was found to have come onto the site and was seen wandering around.
A report from social media said that Norton Canes High School on Burntwood Road had gone into lockdown at around 12.30pm after a man was found to have accessed the site purporting to be a contractor.
Staffordshire Police were called to the scene, while drones were also seen above the school as officers looked for the man.
The Facebook page Chase TV - Community News reported that parents could be seen at the school gates waiting to pick up their children and reported that children could be seen leaving the site before 3pm, with police still in attendance.
Norton Canes headteacher Mrs Diggory said: "Following a report of an unidentified person entering the school grounds, the school acted in the interests of student and staff safety by implementing a precautionary lockdown at 12:30pm on Tuesday.
"An immediate response team was dispatched by Staffordshire Police who attended site. Thorough checks were made by police and the full school site was declared safe at approximately 1:45pm.
"All students and staff were safe thanks to the swift actions of the leadership team and the police. The police have stated that procedures were correctly followed.
"Police will be present tomorrow (Wednesday 4th March) at the start and end of school.The school practices lockdown drills regularly to ensure students and staff understand the procedures – these were carried out impeccably by all today.
"I would like to thank all students and staff for their cooperation and resilience in today’s event and parents for their patience and support in this unprecedented situation."
A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Officers were contacted at 12.30pm this afternoon (Thursday 3 March) and told that Norton Canes High School in Cannock had gone into lockdown as a precautionary measure. At approximately 11.50am, a man had arrived at the school and told staff he was there to carry out work. He entered the external grounds of the school but was unaccounted for.
"There is currently no indication he went inside any school buildings.He is described as a white man, in his late 40s or early 50s, with dark hair. He was wearing a fluorescent yellow jumper with a blue gilet on top. Following a search by officers, lockdown measures were lifted at the school at about 2pm."
