Teacher stabbed at Tewkesbury school ‘hopes to be back in class’ before term ends | UK news

A popular teacher who was stabbed in a Gloucestershire school has said he is hoping to be back in the classroom before the end of the summer term and insisted that no children were under threat during the attack.

Jamie Sansom, who suffered a single stab wound at Tewkesbury Academy at the start of the school day on Monday, said reports that he was breaking up a fight were not correct.

He said: “On police advice, I can’t comment in detail about what happened, but I do want to address some misinformation which has been circulating in coverage.

“It is simply not true to say that I was intervening in a fight between students. In my view, there was no point at which Tewkesbury students faced any direct threat.”

Sansom, 29, was discharged from hospital after treatment and was recuperating with family in south Wales on Tuesday.

The school, on the outskirts of the historic abbey town, was locked down for five hours while armed police scoured the buildings and grounds for the attacker and other possible victims.

A teenager was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by armed officers, supported by a police helicopter, in the village of Stoke Orchard five miles away about two hours later. A knife was also recovered.

Sansom, who has been a maths teacher at the academy since 2017, said: “I am pleased to say that I am recovering well. I was well looked after at Gloucester Royal, and by the police, and I’m grateful for that. My thanks to everyone who helped put me on the road to what is expected to be a full recovery.

“I have received more than 100 messages of support, which has been a big boost. It was hugely uplifting to know I had that support behind me, and I want to thank all of my colleagues and the parents at Tewkesbury Academy who have taken the time to reach out. It has meant a lot.

“I hope to be well enough soon to visit the school to thank people in person. And if doctors give me the all-clear, I hope to be back in the classroom before the summer break. I’m due to move to a new school at the end of the year, and it would mean a lot to me to have the opportunity to say goodbye before I move on.”

Gloucestershire police said on Tuesday that the teenager, who is from Tewkesbury, remains in police custody after a superintendent granted an extension to the time police can question him for.

Police have said the motivation for the attack is unclear, but added that there was no evidence to suggest it was related to terrorism. They said they were initially alerted to a “threat to a teacher”. Minutes later, the ambulance service reported the stabbing.

On Tuesday morning, the secondary school reopened.

A Tewkesbury Academy spokesperson said: “We feel it is important for our students to be able to return to a sense of normality in their school, where we will be providing a range of additional mental and emotional support for students and staff.

“All of us at Tewkesbury Academy are grateful for the support we have received from our community and colleagues from across our trust and from the wider education sector.

“We also want to thank officers from Gloucestershire constabulary for their invaluable help and reassurance.

“And finally, huge thanks to all Tewkesbury colleagues for their calm and professionalism during an incredibly difficult day, and our students and their families for their patience, resilience and support.

“We look forward to continuing to support each other, while focusing again on providing a high-quality education to the young people of Tewkesbury.”

The school said there would be a police presence at the school for the coming days to provide reassurance.

Parents and children told of their concern as pupils were locked in while family members and friends gathered outside.

Tewkesbury Academy, a state secondary school for 11- to 18-year-olds, is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust responsible for a number of academies in the south-west of England.