School in Staffordshire put into lockdown
The headteacher says police will be present tomorrow (Wednesday 4th March) at the start and end of school
Last updated 3rd Mar 2026
A school in Staffordshire was put into lockdown today (Tuesday 3 March), police have confirmed.
Staffordshire Police were contacted at 12.30pm this afternoon and told that Norton Canes High School had gone into lockdown as a precautionary measure.
The police force said:
"At approximately 11.50am, a man had arrived at the school and told staff he was there to carry out work. He entered the external grounds of the school. There is currently no indication he went inside any school buildings."
"He is described as a white man, in his late 40s or early 50s, with dark hair. He was wearing a fluorescent yellow jumper with a blue gilet on top."
"Following a search by officers, lockdown measures were lifted at the school at about 2pm."
Statement from Norton Canes High School:
"Following a report of an unidentified person entering the school grounds, the school acted in the interests of student and staff safety by implementing a precautionary lockdown at 12:30pm on Tuesday 3rd March.
"An immediate response team was dispatched by Staffordshire Police who attended site. Thorough checks were made by police and the full school site was declared safe at approximately 1:45pm.
"All students and staff were safe thanks to the swift actions of the leadership team and the police. The police have stated that procedures were correctly followed.
"Police will be present tomorrow (Wednesday 4th March) at the start and end of school.
"The school practices lockdown drills regularly to ensure students and staff understand the procedures – these were carried out impeccably by all today.
"I would like to thank all students and staff for their cooperation and resilience in today’s event and parents for their patience and support in this unprecedented situation."