Boy, 15, stabbed teacher in corridor forcing entire school into lockdown

04 September 2023 , 11:57

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Police talking to people gathered outside the school on July 10 (Image: Getty Images)

A teenager has admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent after stabbing a maths teacher in a school corridor.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jamie Sansom at Tewkesbury Academy in Gloucestershire, at the start of a two-day trial at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

The boy had previously admitted to a charge of possessing a bladed article following the incident on July 10. Remanding the teenager into a youth detention facility, District Judge Lynne Matthews told him: "We'll need to know more about you and the court will need to hear proposals from the youth offending team.

"I don't know what your sentence will be - I'm not going to guess. You will be sentenced on September 28. You will be remanded until September 28 which means I'm not sending you home." The academy was locked down and two neighbouring schools were also asked to shut their doors as a "precaution" after the attack.

The scene outside the school earlier this year (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

The boy was due to stand trial charged with a more serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge of attempted wounding with intent. Mr Sansom, who has taught maths at the school since 2017, was discharged from hospital on the same day he was attacked and said he was "recovering well".

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In a statement at the time, headteacher Kathleen McGillycuddy confirmed that police were called immediately. She said: "We appreciate that this morning has been a worrying time for all associated with Tewkesbury Academy. We are writing to reassure you that all pupils remain safe and well.

"We were alerted shortly before 9am to reports of a serious incident which left a male member of staff in need of hospital treatment. The school was locked down and police were called immediately when we became aware of this incident." 

The scene on July 10 (Tom Wren / SWNS)

Previously, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was "deeply concerned" by the news while a spokesperson for Downing Street said the Prime Minister's thoughts were with the school.

Local MP Laurence Robertson had also said: "I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the terrible incident at Tewkesbury School this morning. My thoughts are with everyone at the scene. And my thanks to the staff, police, Dobbies [garden centre] and everyone trying to deal with the situation."

The defendant was remanded into custody until a sentencing hearing at Cheltenham Youth Court on September 28.

Katie Weston