A 16-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder

13:06, Thu, Jun 25, 2026 Updated: 13:06, Thu, Jun 25, 2026

Police tape

The incident happened in March (Image: Getty)

A 6-year-old boy from Norfolk has pleaded not guilty after a girl, 15, was stabbed in the back. Police were called to Thorpe St Andrew High School, near Norwich, on Wednesday, March 11, after the girl was stabbed with a carving knife in the school's bathrooms. Appearing via video link at Norwich Crown Court, he has pleaded guilty to having a kitchen knife without lawful authority.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been remanded in custody at a youth detention centre, with a trial due to take place at the same court in October. He will remain in detention until a further case management hearing on September 1. The court heard at a previous hearing that a search of his home showed that he was "looking for specific victims".

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The incident happened at 10.20am on March 11. Armed police swarmed the school, and classrooms were put on lockdown following the incident, with some students hiding under desks.

The school and nearby Laundry Lane were cordoned off while an investigation was carried out by police.

The girl was brought to hospital for treatment for her injuries, and she has since been discharged. The suspect is believed to have jumped over the school fence at the south site entrance in Laundry Lane following the attack.

Police were seen parked on the road while the boy was put in handcuffs and taken into custody. He was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, police later confirmed.

Owen Jenkins, the CEO of Broad Horizons Education Trust, which runs the school, previously said: "We have clear procedures in place and our staff acted swiftly, with the whole school going into lockdown with children staying in their classroom with their teacher.

"One of our students was injured and is now being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

"This has obviously been a distressing experience for our whole community and our focus now is on making sure all students feel supported as we begin to understand what happened."