AN MP has backed the head of a Hampshire school after a student was accused of threatening another boy with a craft knife last week.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes says she has total faith in Mountbatten school head teacher Heather McIlroy and her handling of the incident.

This comes after pupils have been warned they face being expelled if they bring knives to school.

“Knife crime in Romsey is, thankfully, very rare and even more so in our schools,” said Ms Nokes. “It does, however, remain worrying that this incident has occurred. I wholeheartedly support the comments of executive head teacher Heather McIlroy who I know will have dealt with this incident swiftly.”

Posting on the school’s website, Mrs McIlroy confirmed that a Year 7 student in possession of the craft knife has had “a lengthy fixed-term exclusion pending further discussions”.

She added that a special assembly was also held yesterday to discuss the matter with Year 7 pupils.

Mrs McIlroy said: “There was no physical contact and no student was injured. Knife crime is a growing concern for all of us and is an issue that has been addressed in assemblies. Students have all been told, and parents should be aware too, that our policy on possession of weapons in school is very clear: we will not tolerate violence and students must be safe in school.

“Students who bring knives to school risk losing their place at Mountbatten School.”“Thankfully incidents like this are very rare at Mountbatten.”