Birley Academy: LIVE UPDATES as teen, 17, arrested for attempted murder at Sheffield school, three injured
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Here are the latest updates from a breaking incident at Sheffield’s Birley Academy, on Birley Lane, South Yorkshire, where three people have reportedly been hospitalised and a teenager, 17, is under arrest for attempted murder.
Birley Academy: Sheffield secondary school will be open tomorrow following arrest of boy, 17, on suspicion of attempted murder
Key Events
- A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
- Three people reportedly suffered injuries and were treated by emergency services on scene.
- The school went into lockdown this morning. Headteacher, Victoria Hall, has stated the school will be open as usual tomorrow.
Oliver Coppard and the Police and Crime Commissioner react...
South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, and Mayor, Oliver Coppard have issued statements regarding Wednesday’s emergency incident at The Birley Academy.
Dr Billings said: “I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of this incident.
“Whilst this type of incident is rare it has been extremely concerning for all those involved and the wider school community.
“I have been fully briefed by the Chief Constable and I would like to thank the police and the school for their swift response. The community can be reassured that police were able to make an arrest at the scene and an individual is in custody.”
Mayor Coppard wrote: “The incident at Birley Academy in Sheffield this morning is both shocking and distressing. My thoughts are with those who have been injured and everyone from across the school community.
“I want to thank the emergency services for their swift response and for the work that police officers are now doing to provide assuarance across Birley and South East Sheffield.
“I also want to pay tribute to Birley Academy staff and students for their own response today.”
Local reactions including calls for airport-style security in schools
There has been a number of mixed reactions to the events at The Birley Academy today.
Most have complimented the school and staff for their work and efforts in communicating with parents and keeping pupils safe, however, others have now called for strict airport-style security to be required in schools.
The Birley Academy will be open tomorrow, Head confirms
Headteacher of the Birley Academy, Victoria Hall, joined Assistant Chief Constable Dan Thorpe outside the school gates to make live statements to reporters.
Watch both ACC Thorpe and Ms Hall’s statements below.
Birley Academy: Photos at the scene of school attack where 17-year-old arrested for attempted murder
Here are the latest photos from the scene of the serious incident today (May 1) at Birley Academy, Sheffield.
BREAKING: First statement from Birley Academy praises response by staff
Birley Academy has published its first statement following an incident this morning in which three people were injured and a teenager was arrested for attempted murder.
A spokesperson said: “This morning we went into lockdown following an incident at the school and have since taken the decision to close the school. The safety of students and staff is paramount and all students and staff are safe.
“Three people were treated for minor injuries at the scene and no one was taken to hospital.
“We would like to praise our staff for their professionalism and our students for the way they responded. We continue to work closely with the police and will update as required.”
Breaking: Several people 'checked on site' but not hospitalised, says ambulance service
Yorkshire Ambulance Service has now confirmed that “a number of patients were checked over on scene and did not need to be conveyed to hospital” at Birley Academy.
Earlier reports said that all three patients in the incident were conveyed to hospital.
Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan says she is "disturbed" to hear of attempted murder in Sheffield
Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan has tweeted in the past hour: “I am disturbed to hear about the incident at Birley Academy where a teenager has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
“We're in touch with the school and my thoughts are with those injured and all the school community affected by this frightening situation.”
Prime Minister: 'Our thoughts are with those injured in Sheffield school incident'
In his opening for Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak has just mentioned the attack at The Birley Academy.
Following condolences to the families affected by the sword attack in London yesterday, the PM also mentioned the ongoing investigation in Sheffield.
“I know our thoughts are also with those injured this morning in an attack at a school in Sheffield.”
Birley Academy lockdown Sheffield: MP Clive Betts police incident at school 'not predictable'
Sheffield MP Clive Betts believes today’s shocking incident at Birley Academy was ‘not predictable’.
The school, which teaches pupils aged 11 to 16, went into lockdown this morning, with Yorkshire Ambulance Service on the scene, after an incident which police said involved a 'sharp object'.
What age group does Birley Academy teach?
Many readers have asked for more information about Sheffield’s Birley Academy following the lockdown today where a 17-year-old boy was reportedly arrested for attempted murder.
Birley Academy, in Birley Lane, is a secondary school for children aged 11-16 with no sixth form provision.
It is operated by L.E.A.D Academic Trust and is one of the largest schools in Sheffield, with a cohort of 1,095 at its last Ofsted inspection in 2023.
It is understood that Birley Academy welcomed a new headteacher only this week.
Vicky Hall reportedly took up her post yesterday, April 30.
The school was previously known as Birley Community College until it converted to Birley Academy in 2016. The sit has been rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by Ofsted since 2023.