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Winterton school stabbing: Girl, 16, arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder welfare officer

Police outside Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire - Ben Lack Photography Ltd
Police outside Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire - Ben Lack Photography Ltd

A 16-year-old schoolgirl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a welfare officer was stabbed at a secondary school.

The victim, a 61-year-old woman, suffered non-life threatening wounds in the attack at Winterton Community Academy in North Lincolnshire at just before 9am on Monday, Humberside Police said.

In a statement, the force said the schoolgirl, a student at the academy, was being questioned by officers and that pupils did not witness the incident.

The attack happened in a school office while children were in classrooms, according to the Scunthorpe Telegraph. 

The victim, a welfare officer at the school, is being treated at Hull Royal Infirmary after she was stabbed with a small, black-handled kitchen knife at around 8.50am this morning.

Winterton headteacher Gareth Morris said: "We are keen to reassure parents and the community that this is an isolated incident and that the school remains open.

"We will support our staff directly affected and will be keeping parents updated throughout the day."

Winterton Community Academy - Credit: Ben Lack
A police officer outside Winterton Community Academy Credit: Ben Lack

The school is in the small town of Winterton, north-east of Scunthorpe, several miles from the Humber Bridge.

Mr Morris is quoted on the website as saying: "Our pupils live in Winterton and a number of surrounding villages.

"Many of them travel some distance to school because parents have chosen our school instead of one more local to their home. The school is, therefore, popular.

"We are also a caring community, recognising that each child is an individual whose needs must be attended to and whose talents must be developed."

Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson said: "We attended a serious incident just before 9am this morning at Winterton Community Academy, and a a 61-year-old woman is being treated in hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries.

"Staff at the school and police officers responded to this isolated incident very quickly, and one person is currently in custody as a result."

A girl has been arrested at Winterton Community Academy  - Credit: Google Street View
The incident happened at Winterton Community Academy shortly after 9am Credit: Google Street View

Winterton Community Academy's website hosts a message from the student council which reads: "No one deserves to feel unhappy at school and at Winterton Community Academy there is always somebody available you can talk to, such as our Peer Mentors, Peer Mediators and Pupil Support Staff."

It adds that the academy has "made an incredible leap forward over the past couple of years", citing an Ofsted report which progressed from a rating of "special measures" to "good with outstanding features".