Violent threats surge in WA schools, forcing more lock downs, report shows

L A : Public Schools Ellenbrook SecondarySchool was locked down last year after an attack involving knives and an axe. (ABC News) The government must put an end to school violence, opposition education spokesperson Liam Staltari said.   (ABC News:  Keane Bourke) "Students and teachers deserve to be safe in school and parents should have every confidence that's going to be the case and the buck stops with our government when it comes to that safety in public schools," Mr Staltari said. "Simply brushing this away is not going to cut it with parents or teachers or students." During the emergency, classroom doors and windows are locked, blinds are pulled down and students ordered to keep a low profile until the "all clear" is given, which can mean hiding under their desks. Whole school evacuations were not included in the report tabled in Parliament this week. School lockdowns have soared in Western Australia since 2017, according to education department figures. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) School violence 'unacceptable' Education Minister Sabine Winton acknowledged there had been an increase in schools reporting lockdowns since the government introduced an Incident Management Manual in 2020 to safeguard schools. She also said the government empowered school principals to automatically suspend, or move to exclude, students who instigate violence. Education Minister Sabine Winton said the government takes a strong stand against school violence (ABC News: Kenith Png) "Threats of violence at school, or anywhere in the community, are unacceptable," Ms Winton told the ABC in a statement. "The Department of Education's Incident Support Unit has strengthened face-to-face training to help schools identify when a lockdown is required and ensure staff are equipped to respond appropriately." Last year, a teenage boy was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the arm in a "targeted" knife attack that put Ellenbrook Secondary School in Perth into lockdown. At least 10 teenagers have been charged over the assault, in which knives and an axe were used.