Pupils Told to Stay Away from Astor Secondary School in Dover Amid Urgent Incident
A serious incident has unfolded at Astor Secondary School in Dover, Kent, after a threatening email was received by the school, prompting police to be called to the scene. According to reports from Kent Online, the email was sent to the school at 7:37 am this morning, causing widespread disruption on the eve of GCSE exams.
In a statement released to parents, school officials advised them to keep their children away from the school, citing the need for a thorough check of the premises. The message, obtained by Kent Online, read: "Due to the site needing to be thoroughly checked, we have been advised for the site to be cleared of staff and students immediately with further updates to follow." Parents were also informed that students who had already arrived at the school would be sent home, and that phone lines were currently closed.
The police were quick to respond to the situation, attending the school to provide reassurance and advise staff. A police spokesman confirmed that the email was being treated as a "non-credible threat," and that enquiries into the correspondence were ongoing. "Kent Police received a report at 7:37 am that a school in Astor Avenue, Dover, had received an email making threats," the spokesman said. "Officers attended to advise staff and provide reassurance. The email is being treated as a non-credible threat and enquiries into the correspondence are ongoing."
As reported by Kent Online, the incident comes at a critical time for students, with GCSE exams set to begin across the country. The disruption is likely to cause concern among parents and students, particularly given the importance of these exams. However, the police have confirmed that they are taking the situation seriously and are working to determine the origin and nature of the threatening email.
This is not the first time that schools in Kent have been affected by threatening emails. In February, several schools in Northfleet and Gravesend were forced into lockdown after receiving an email making threats. In that instance, police also treated the correspondence as a "non-credible threat" and launched an investigation. Kent Online has learned that Astor Secondary School and Kent County Council are working closely with the police to investigate the incident and ensure the safety of students and staff.
The incident at Astor Secondary School highlights the ongoing concerns about school safety and the potential for threats to be made against educational institutions. As Kent Online reports, the police are continuing to investigate the incident and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the threatening email. For now, students will have to wait until further notice before they can return to school and begin their GCSE exams.
The school’s administration has assured parents that they will provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available. In the meantime, students and parents are left to wait and see how the situation unfolds. According to Kent Online, the school and the police are working together to ensure that the situation is resolved as quickly and safely as possible.
