Latest news with #schoolSafety
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Benedict Blythe inquest jury rules 'accidental' allergy death
An inquest jury has found a primary school did not follow all the measures in place to prevent the death of a five-year old boy from a fatal anaphylactic reaction to cow's Blythe, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, vomited twice before collapsing at Barnack Primary School in December 2021. He was pronounced dead in hospital a short while at the inquest into his death at Peterborough Town Hall concluded he had died after an accidental exposure to an allergen - cow's milk for a new law to ensure schools have adequate allergy plans for children, Benedict's mother, Helen Blythe, said her son's death was "preventable and caused by a cascade of failures". The school and Department for Education have both been approached for six days of hearing evidence, jurors also found there were delays in administering an adrenalin pen by had asthma and a number of allergies including eggs, nuts, kiwi fruit and parents worked with the school to put together a "number of preventative measures for Benedict", which included a personal allergy action plan and a specific process for storing, preparing and supplying oat milk to the involved storing the milk, which was labelled with the child's name, in the staff fridge and pouring it into Benedict's cup in the classroom before handing it directly to on the day of his death that process was not followed because his milk had been poured in the staff room and then taken to him in the foreperson of the jury told the court: "We deem the probable source of the allergen that caused the fatal anaphylaxis is the ingestion of cow's milk protein, most probably from his own receptacle during break time."Jurors also found there were missed opportunities to review "lessons learned" from a previous incident, in which Benedict was served pizza for lunch at the school in October 2021, which resulted in him being other factors that probably caused Benedict's death included "opportunities for cross-contamination or mix-up of milk, his allergy plan not being shared and distributed to teaching staff, and a late identification of his symptoms and treatment", the jury said. Speaking after the conclusion of the inquest, Mrs Blythe said: "Three and a half years ago, we lost our son. Benedict died in a place where he should have been safe – his school."Since then, we've been left in silence - without answers, without accountability. It has taken years of painful waiting, legal processes and relentless perseverance just to uncover the truth. And even now, the truth is devastating."There were critical failings from the very beginning. The investigation at the time was inadequate as the evidence needed to establish how and why he died was never obtained. Because of that, precious time was lost - and with it, opportunities to understand what happened to our son."Benedict's death was preventable and was caused by a cascade of failures -individual, institutional and systemic." Area coroner Elizabeth Gray was previously told the five-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:57 in Peterborough City Hospital and died due to food-induced previously heard Benedict had been kept off school on 30 November after being sick the night went back on 1 December after Mrs Blythe, who gave evidence last week, said he "was fine and didn't appear to be unwell".That day, while outside with other children during morning break, Benedict ate a gingerbread biscuit he had taken with him from home, the inquest had then returned to the classroom, where he was offered oat milk but was said to have refused it. He fell ill shortly after that before his outside court earlier, Mrs Blythe said: "No more children should die at school because of an allergy."We demand change." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Washington Post
Most public school parents say their children are safe in D.C.-area schools
Andre Thompson sometimes worries about his daughter's safety while she attends classes at Dunbar High School in Northwest Washington. A decade ago, his older son was attacked by another teenager at the school and hospitalized, the 44-year-old D.C. resident said. Last year, a student was grazed in the head by a stray bullet that was fired outside and flew through a classroom window.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- CBS News
Suspect wanted for shooting Philadelphia school safety officer, police say
A suspect is wanted in the shooting that critically injured a Philadelphia school safety officer early Sunday morning during a road rage incident. Police said on Tuesday that officers responded to the report of a shooting on the 300 block of North Christopher Columbus Boulevard at about 1:45 a.m. and found the officer inside a marked Philadelphia School District Safety vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds to the torso and face. Police said the school safety officer was taken to Jefferson Hospital and placed in critical condition. Two days after the shooting, police released surveillance video of a white 2017-19 Kia Sportage with a suspect inside wanted in connection with the incident. Police described the suspect as a man with a bowl-type haircut who was wearing a red or orange shirt. Philadelphia Police Department On Sunday, police said the school safety officer was shot after a road rage incident that stemmed from two other people. When the officer arrived to intervene, police said a man inside an SUV opened fire, striking the officer multiple times before fleeing the scene. A spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia said the officer was assigned to Kensington Creative & Performing Arts High School, which has been used to shelter residents who were displaced by a fire last week. The officer has been a part of the Office of School Safety for nearly 20 years, and he was an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department for 28 years.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Basic Education and Police Chairpersons Welcome Signing of Collaborative Protocols on School Safety
The Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, and the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, welcome the bold step taken by the Ministers of Police and of Basic Education to sign and launch the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety. The protocols, if properly implemented, will be a game-changer in school safety, especially with increasing incidents of crime in the four identified provinces. 'The murder of Lethabo Mokonyane four days ago underscores the trend of violent crime in and around school premises that requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders to bring an end to this worrying trend. School environments should be safe spaces for teaching and learning and nothing else,' Ms Maimela said. The intention to focus the roll-out in four provinces, namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, is in line with calls for data-driven focus in combating crime. 'The approach to target hotspots has the potential of stemming the tide of crime in schools. But it is up to station-level management to implement the protocols effectively to ensure success,' Mr Cameron emphasised. Both Chairpersons highlighted concern that the fourth-quarter crime statistics revealed six reported murders and 80 rapes in educational institutions. The intended intervention of increasing police visibility and linking schools to a police station has the potential to reverse these high numbers. Furthermore, Ms Maimela commended the intention of improving the vetting process for educators and staff in schools against the National Register for Sex Offenders and the National Child Protection Register. 'This has long been a requirement to obtain a position in schools to safeguard vulnerable groups but was neglected. It is important that such safeguards are adhered to without fail,' Ms Maimela argued. The question of substance abuse was also highlighted as a concern that requires a society-wide approach as it has far-reaching consequences, especially for schools. Mr Cameron highlighted that municipalities must also play their role in enforcing municipal bylaws that prohibit the establishment of liquor-selling premises near schools. Both committees have committed to ensuring effective oversight over the implementation of the protocols. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Herald
25-06-2025
- The Herald
SAPS and basic education department join hands to fight school crime
He also raised concern about burglary and vandalism during school holidays, which he described as 'not victimless crimes', that deprive children of valuable resources. Recent incidents include the murder of four children in Samora Machel, Cape Town, between May 22 and June 11, and the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old pupil from Pretoria East, killed by fellow pupils. The minister also noted many schools are struggling with serious issues such as bullying, substance abuse and misconduct, which can lead to crime. 'Bullying, drug use, sexual and alcohol abuse have become prevalent in our schools and are a breeding ground for crime in schools,' said Mchunu. Safety is a constitutional right that must be upheld in all schools and communities. 'Policing is not a one department responsibility,' he said, and called for government and society to come together and participate in efforts to make environments safe and resilient. The newly signed protocol promotes collaboration between schools and their nearest police stations to ensure quicker responses and proactive crime prevention. 'It promotes a community-based inclusive approach to school safety — one that takes into account the lived realities of learners, educators and parents,' he said. SAPS is also focusing on increased police visibility and has engaged pupils in Gauteng on issues such as gangsterism, bullying and substance abuse. The department is implementing the integrated crime and violence prevention strategy as part of the protocol to address the root causes of crime. 'We cannot do this without parents; they must be active participants in the fight against crime — starting in their own homes, in their streets and in their communities,' he said. He assured the public that SAPS is working to improve police stations and improve policing. 'This protocol signifies the continuation of closer co-operation, stronger partnerships and a renewed commitment to the wellbeing of our children.' TimesLIVE
