A YOUNG boy brought a vegetable knife into school this week ‘in a misguided attempt to imitate an action film character’, a headteacher has said.

The management team at St Michael’s School in Somerville Road, Bournemouth, wrote to parents after the eight-year-old brought the knife in on Wednesday.

Headteacher Bob Kennedy said the “isolated incident” is a “very unfortunate choice by the pupil concerned”.

“An eight-year-old child brought a small vegetable knife into school. It was removed as soon as it came to the attention of a member of staff,” Mr Kennedy said.

“We have treated this as a very serious incident and have taken proportionate sanctions against the pupil concerned having discussed this matter with his parents.

“The pupil’s account, corroborated by other children and his parents, has led us to believe he naively brought the knife to school in a misguided attempt to roleplay a favourite action film.

“The school’s governors and multi-agency safeguarding hub team have been notified and an investigation has been carried out by the school.

“We take issued of this kind very seriously, and, as a result, have taken further steps, such as inviting in Dorset Police’s safe schools and communities team to talk to the children.

“Having had discussions with the pupil’s parents, we feel assured that this is an isolated incident and a very unfortunate choice by the pupil concerned.”

A letter sent to parents and carers by Mr Kennedy has also been published on the school’s website.

In it, he said the Year 3 pupil had “no intent to harm others”, but reiterated that the school is treating the incident as a “very serious matter”.

“Please can we all be vigilant about what our children might bring into school,” he said.

“The safety and well-being of our pupils is our highest concern and we would like to assure you that this is an unprecedented occurrence which was dealt with immediately.”

St Michael’s received a ‘good’ rating in its last Ofsted.