A STUDENT from St John’s Academy has been excluded for bringing a knife to school but headteacher Nicky Edmondson wants to reassure parents that there was no danger to students.

It was reported to a member of staff that the student had the penknife in her pocket on Friday and it was confiscated immediately.

It also emerged in a separate incident she had made ‘unguarded remarks’ to one of her peers but the school in Marlborough has insisted it is not linked to her bringing the knife to school and no threats were made but she has been suspended.

“It is being dealt with and we take anything like this very seriously,” said Mrs Edmondson, who took over as principal from Patrick Hazelwood in September.

“We had a girl in school who had a penknife in her pocket but she made no threats. The knife was never brought out her pocket and once it came to the teacher’s attention it was removed immediately.

“We have a zero tolerance policy of anything inappropriate being brought into school.”

Mrs Edmondson added: “The following day it emerged she had made some unguarded remarks to another student but there was no threatening of the knife at all. It is not connected and we have no ongoing concerns.

“She has been externally excluded and we have been managing the situation sensitively. We are happy to reassure parents and students.”

Police have confirmed they were called on Monday to the home of parents of a pupil but following enquiries they have deemed it not to be a police matter.