An 11-year-old schoolboy carried a knife into a primary school in Hillingdon completely unnoticed.
The boy had the knife in his coat pocket the entire day on Thursday May 11, with staff only becoming aware of the blade when pupils reported it to them and was confirmed with the boy's parents.
Parents at the school in the Hillingdon borough received an email later that evening confirming that a Year 6 pupil had brought a knife with him into the school.
According to the email "at no time was the knife produced". The incident comes during a prolonged spell of knife crime across London.
A second email was sent to concerned parents the next day, adding the child was "not in school today" but that on his return next week, he will be placed on "internal exclusion".
This would mean that the boy will be in the school but not with other children, with separate lessons and break times, and he will not be eating lunch with other children.
The school added when the staff feel he is ready to be reintegrated into the year group, he will "continue to have an adult with him and will not be alone with other children".
The boy's mother will escort him into school each morning where an adult will check all his pockets, book bag and coat before being allowed into the school.
One parent has told getwestlondon the action is inadequate, adding "my child is afraid to go to school".
"How can the school judge when he is ready to return when the boy took a knife into school all day and they didn't even know?" the parent said.
The head teacher at the school said: “It was alleged this week that a child in Year 6 had brought a knife into school, concealed in a coat pocket.
"This was confirmed with the child's parent, and the police were informed immediately.
"We have notified parents and carers and have also spoken to all the pupils in the year group to provide reassurance, and also an opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions.
"When the pupil involved resumes his lessons next week he will do so for a period of internal exclusion.
"This means that although the child will be in school, he will remain separate from the other children and be accompanied by an adult at all times.
"The school will continue to work closely with the police in an effort to avoid any repetition of such occurrences.”
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