Balgowlah Boys on Maretimo Street, Balgowlah went into lockdown around lunchtime today after an alleged armed intruder approached the school grounds.
No one has been harmed and school has since finished for the day without incident.
Police confirmed they attended after 1pm following “reports of a person seen with a knife outside the school grounds. Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended and are conducting inquiries.”
Parents at the school were notified via email soon after confirming that the school was in lockdown and that “Everyone is safe (no one is hurt).”
Northern Beaches Secondary College (NBSC) Balgowlah Boys Campus Relieving Principal Chris Boylan informed parents that “The intruder has left and is being sought by police.”
Police have not provided any information regarding the age or appearance of the alleged intruder.
Later in the day parents were updated that police had provided clearances the Acting Principal provided fair detail to parents to better understand the context of the lockdown.
The letter stated: “All students and staff were unharmed in this incident, which involved an unknown man on site in possession of a knife.
Police were called immediately and attended the school quickly.
When challenged by staff, the man dropped the implement and ran quickly from the site before police arrived.
To allow police free access to our site, the school remained in lockdown, with students supervised by staff, until approximately 2.15pm when normal school operations resumed.
Although no person was hurt, and many students were already off site at sporting activities when the lockdown occurred, the school realises this incident may have impacted a number of students emotionally.
Therefore, counselling will be offered to students; however, please contact the school office if you believe your child needs such support.
As the safety and wellbeing of all our students, staff and visitors are the school’s highest priorities, we will continue reviewing our operational procedures in light of this incident.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of the school.”
