Chichester school evacuated after allergic reactions
Paramedics, firefighters and police officers attended the scene earlier today.
Last updated 6th Oct 2020
A school in Chichester has been evacuated after reports of four allergic reactions.
It happened at around 1pm today (6 October) at Chichester Free School in Hunston Road.
South East Coast Ambulance Service has confirmed crews attended the scene.
A spokesperson said "three people, two pupils and one adult, have been taken to St Richard’s Hospital for further checks and treatment".
Meanwhile Sussex Police has said the two teenage pupils "have existing conditions or allergies", and were "taken to hospital with breathing difficulties, believed to be caused by aerosols being sprayed".
They added a teacher reported the same symptoms and was checked over by paramedics at the school, "however there are no serious concerns for either of those affected".
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, and to determine whether any offences have been committed", a spokesperson confirmed.
Firefighters were also called to the scene by the ambulance service, with fire engines from Chichester and Bognor Regis in attendance.
A West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said they worked with Sussex Police and paramedics to "ensure all staff and pupils on site were kept safe while investigations were carried out to ensure there was no further risk present".
They also made sure the affected area was "well-ventilated".
The spokesperson added there "is not believed to be any wider risk to school pupils or staff, or the general public, as a result of this incident".
The school's principal, Louise New said:
"At 1pm today in the secondary phase of the school, there were four allergic reactions which required the presence of ambulances and response medics.
"Due to the number and severity of these reactions we acted on the advice of the emergency services to evacuate the whole school to their outside zones.
"The year group bubbles were not broken during this procedure and I am very proud of the mature response from all of the pupils.
"Primary pupils have now returned to class.
"Secondary pupils are being supervised in their outdoor zones and will return to the building for their final lesson of the day.
"Pick up time is as normal.
"The emergency services have praised the school's swift response to this incident and the pupils' calm and mature behaviour throughout."