Full Breakdown
Evacuation and Day-Long Closure of Coquet Community School Over Malicious Communication Threat
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On a Friday morning, Northumbria Police were contacted shortly after 09:00 GMT about a report of “malicious communications” targeting a school on Acklington Road in the Amble area of Northumberland. Emergency services, including an ambulance crew and two hazardous-area response teams, responded to Coquet Community School. School management evacuated pupils from the new main building and relocated them to the old sports hall of the former James Calvert Spence College. After a thorough search of the premises, the school remained closed for the remainder of the day, and pupils were sent home.
Background & Context
Coquet Community School opened to pupils on September 23, replacing the former James Calvert Spence College with a £47 million new site. The building was scheduled for a formal opening later that Friday. The evacuation occurred just days after the school began operating in the new facilities.
Official Statements & Responses
Northumbria Police issued a statement confirming the receipt of the malicious-communication report and the deployment of emergency services. The force asked the public to avoid the area while officers conducted a thorough search of the school premises. A police spokesperson later described the communication as “believed to be a hoax” and noted that the investigation was still at an early stage.
Headteacher James Andriot communicated with parents via email and social-media messages. He explained that the evacuation and subsequent closure were precautionary measures, emphasized that all pupils and staff were “safe and well,” and outlined logistics for collecting children from the old JCSC car park. Andriot also indicated that the school could not provide lunch because the main site was off-limits, and that mobile phones collected during form time would be returned on Monday.
On-the-Ground Reports
Parents arriving at the school described a chaotic scene. One parent reported that teachers were matching children with their carers amid crying pupils and widespread panic. Another parent described the experience as “very scary,” noting that the sudden email about a threat left families uncertain about the situation. Staff were reported to be assisting parents at the old car park and attempting to arrange earlier bus pick-ups, though no specific timeline was provided.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Initial police communications identified the threat as a malicious communication without specifying its nature. Later statements from the police indicated that the communication was “believed to be a hoax,” but the investigation remained ongoing, leaving the exact source and intent of the message unconfirmed. No further details about the content of the communication or any subsequent legal action have been released.
Impact and Immediate Consequences
The evacuation disrupted the inaugural day of the new school building, delayed the planned formal opening, and required the relocation of pupils to temporary facilities. The incident also prompted heightened security measures, with a small number of officers remaining on site to reassure staff, pupils, and parents.
What’s Next
Northumbria Police indicated that enquiries were ongoing and that the investigation would continue. The school’s communications indicated that mobile phones collected during the incident would be returned to pupils on the following Monday, and that transport arrangements for earlier pick-ups were still being coordinated. No further public statements about the outcome of the investigation have been issued.