Calls for all Sheffield schools to try airport-style scanners to help tackle knife crime
The headteacher at a Sheffield school hopes it'll be the first of many to put security scanners at its doors to help tackle knife crime
The headteacher of a Sheffield school, who installed airport style security scanners to help tackle knife crime, has told Hallam every school in the city should do the same.
Parkwood Academy in Sheffield temporarily had the security arches to make children think about what they're bringing into school.
It's part of a campaign they've been running to highlight knife crime and help keep children safe.
Victoria Simcock's the headteacher - she says it's really important to address the problem:
"In Spital Hill, there was a shooting and a stabbing and some of my students come from that area. I have to work with them - I have to be a realist, I have to be pragmatic - it's not just my job to get Grade 5s and above in English maths and three others. My job is to prepare them for life.
"I want to be clear that here at Parkwood there is not a problem at all in terms of knife crime. But it is my job to safeguard children - it's my job to educate them. It's not just about GCSE exam results, it's about making sure they know how to be good people and keep themselves safe in a society where externally there are these dangers."
All children and staff were scanned through the arches at the school on two days. Nothing suspicious was found.
It comes after the school was the first in Yorkshire to introduce a knife amnesty last month at the start of the campaign.
Victoria's hoping the idea of security arches is something other Sheffield schools will take up:
"We've opened this conversation, we've opened this debate. We've informed out parents - our parent forum are very supportive of it. Our ambassadors are very proud of the fact we're doing it and actually I think it's not just Parkwood who should be doing it. I think this should be getting done in every secondary school in cities.
"Parents are always going to be concerned and I think there is that worry, certainly from my perspective, that some people out there will think 'oh Parkwood, well they must have a problem.' Parkwood does not have a problem. Parkwood is actually taking the safeguarding of students and staff so seriously. We think we're trailblazers in this matter and actually I'd encourage other headteachers to be brave enough to do it."