RUMOURS a child was threatened with a knife by a fellow pupil at Austwick Primary School have been quashed.

An unnamed source said a child had been threatened last week but the school had not informed the police and told the mother of the threatened child not to approach the governors.

On Monday, North Yorkshire County Council issued a statement.

They said: “Austwick Church of England Primary School has an outstanding record in promoting pupil welfare and personal development and has effective safeguarding arrangements, according to Ofsted which inspected the school this summer.

“Therefore, during a recent isolated incident when a child accidentally brought a penknife into school in their coat, all necessary safeguarding procedures were followed and an investigation by North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire County Council’s school advisory service, health and safety officers and parent support service agreed that no further action was required.”

Austwick’s chair of governors, Mark Hutchinson said: “The school and all agencies that looked into this matter agreed that this was an isolated and accidental matter, despite some rumours to the contrary. The safeguarding of children is Austwick’s highest priority and the school is proud of its outstanding record in the welfare and development of its pupils.

“Ofsted’s recent inspection report only served to confirm what governors already know, that we have a dedicated and inspirational headteacher in Jo Brookes who has driven improvement relentlessly and who is passionate about child safety and good relationships and about keeping the school’s Christian ethos at the heart of the school’s work.

“Ofsted supported the Diocese of Leeds recognition of our school’s outstanding provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development , exemplary relationships among pupils and between pupils and staff and our pupils’ impressive attitudes and behaviour. Our numbers are growing and we are all committed to maintaining the school’s caring ethos and the high quality of teaching and learning provided by the wider curriculum.”