Should Our Schools Have Metal Detectors?

Questions are being asked this morning about how we can make our schools safer, after another teacher was stabbed here in West Yorkshire.

50-year-old Vincent Uzomah is in a stable condition in hospital after he was knifed in the stomach during a science lesson at Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder.

Professor John Howson is the director of Oxford Teacher Services and was stabbed himself as he taught a class over 30 years ago. However, he doesn't think metal detectors are the answer:

"I was visiting an American high school a few years ago where they had a full sweep of metal detectors but that hadn’t stopped a shooting the day before and frankly if somebody is determined to do something they will find a way – and it’s more likely to catch the forgetful more than the determined.

"Schools are places where children learn to trust and I think the building up of that trust is critically important and that making everybody go through a metal detectoris not a good way of building up trust – we still trust people to use the underground without people going through metal detectors."

But some parents want to see more security measures in a hope that it'll prevent it happening again.

Dad Alex Hagan has an 11-year-old daughter at the academy. He says he'd like to see schools step up security to keep staff and pupils safe.

“It’s a very good school and the academic work is very good . They don’t have any problems, so I’m so surprised to hear this and I think they have to introduce **metal detectors , urgently.”

Safina Fazal has a child at the academy too, she also like to see more security to prevent any other incidents like this.

“We need security, definitely. The government need to do something in the future that might stop this kind of news. For the kid’s safety and the teacher’s safety, they need to do something.”

But one parent says it's made him rethink whether he'll send his kids to the academy. This man lives just down the road from the school and has two young children.

“Of course I’ll ask the teachers and check their reputation again otherwise no chance. It has a good reputation but today, I’m very sad.“