Commenting after schools received an email saying an explosive device was located in hundreds of schools in Northern Ireland - which is now being treated as a hoax by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Rob Kelsall, assistant general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: 

“Bomb threats made against schools are utterly unacceptable. Every pupil, member of staff and family has the right to expect that schools are safe places to learn and work.

“School leaders and staff have responded with professionalism, calm and good judgement in extremely difficult circumstances. However, it is unacceptable that some have been left trying to reconcile differing and, at times, contradictory advice from multiple agencies while managing incidents of this seriousness.

“When schools face threats of this nature, they need clear, consistent and coordinated communication from the relevant authorities. Instead, many leaders have been left dealing with uncertainty and mixed messages at a time when they should be able to rely on swift, unambiguous guidance.

“Our members are responsible for making decisions in real time to protect pupils and staff, but they should not be left carrying that burden without the support and clarity they need from the agencies responsible for public safety and education.

“NAHT Belfast has raised these concerns directly with the Minister and has been liaising with the PSNI to help support members as they respond to these threats. We are calling for a joined-up review of how information is communicated to schools during incidents such as these so that leaders can have confidence that advice is timely, consistent and aligned.

“The safety and wellbeing of pupils, staff and the wider school community must remain the overriding priority. Schools deserve better than conflicting advice when dealing with situations of this seriousness.”