A PUPIL who brandished a knife while chasing other schoolchildren was one of eight to be excluded for taking weapons into school.

The pupil took the knife into the unnamed Essex school on two consecutive days and threatened others with it.

It is one of the eight cases involving weapons which led to pupils being permanently excluded in the past academic year, according to a Freedom of Information response released by Essex County Council.

Other cases included one child being stabbed in the hand with a craft knife and a member of staff being threatened with a metre ruler and having a fire extinguisher sprayed in her face.

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “Pupils in Essex generally have a good behaviour record and schools have robust disciplinary procedures in place to address any instances of poor behaviour.

“Permanent exclusion is always a last resort. However, violence and threats of violence against others will not be tolerated and headteachers will continue to take the necessary action to ensure the safety of their pupils and staff.”

The local education authority refused to give any more details about the cases for fear of identifying the children.

It was also unable to say whether the cases had been reported to the police and said permanent exclusions are decided by the headteacher.

The release of the figures comes as a 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a teacher and fellow pupil in Worcestershire and just months after teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death in Leeds.

Jerry Glazier, general secretary of the Essex branch of the National Association of Teachers, said: “The health and safety of our members and pupils is of paramount concern.

“It is absolutely right schools should have clear policies and procedures, so if someone brings into school an inappropriate article, weapon or anything dangerous, there are serious consequences and robust sanctions.”

He stressed eight incidents for the whole of the county is low and he does not believe it is a rising trend.

A total of 70 pupils were excluded in the past academic year.

In each case they are sent to a pupil referral unit and then can be integrated, back into mainstream schools, depending on their progress