Stowmarket High School locked down after threats to staff

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 16:38 · Archive

Stowmarket High School in Suffolk was locked down after alleged threats were made to staff over the phone.

Stowmarket High School in Suffolk was locked down on Tuesday just after 12.15pm following alleged threats made to staff over the phone. Two police units attended the school in Onehouse Road, and Suffolk Police confirmed that the incident was being taken very seriously. No arrests have been made.

In a letter to parents, executive headteacher Lucie Hernandez and head of school Adam Pickering said that all students and staff were safe and that police had been working with the school to ensure an appropriate response. They said the lockdown had been lifted and students would have an extended lunch period before returning to lessons. The school praised the 'conduct, maturity and responsibility shown by all students' during the incident.

Pupils were allowed to leave at normal time. The school declined to comment further, saying the matter was now with police. The Ipswich Star reports this is the fifth lockdown incident at Suffolk schools in 2026, having previously reported that Tollgate Primary School in Bury St Edmunds activated its lockdown procedure in July after a person carrying a chisel entered the grounds.

How it is being reported

• High school lockdown fifth incident this year across countyStowmarket High School was required to go into lockdown after an alleged threat was made at Tuesday lunchtime.Ipswich Star · 20 Oct, 16:15
• High school lockdown fifth incident this year across countyStowmarket High School was required to go into lockdown after an alleged threat was made at Tuesday lunchtime.East Anglian Daily Times · 20 Oct, 16:15
• Recap after Suffolk high school plunged into lockdown as staff threatenedStowmarket High School in Suffolk was in lockdown after threats were made to staff as police arrived on the scene.East Anglian Daily Times · 20 Oct, 15:10
• Town high school in lockdown over 'threats' to staffStowmarket High School has been put into lockdown after reports of threats made to staff.East Anglian Daily Times · 20 Oct, 14:47

In this story: Stowmarket High School · Suffolk · Suffolk Police · Lucie Hernandez · Adam Pickering · Onehouse Road · Tollgate Primary School · Bury St Edmunds

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem