School hit by series of hoax bomb threats: Pupils evacuated onto playing fields after receiving an ‘identical’ threatening email just days after panicked parents were called to pick their children up

• Oaks Park High School in London have had two ‘identical’ threats in four days

A school has been forced to evacuate pupils for the second time in four days after receiving an ‘identical’ email about a hoax bomb threat.

The Oaks Park High School in Carshalton, south London, informed parents at 8.19am that police had asked teachers to urgently evacuate pupils onto the playing fields.

It comes after the same school had the exact same incident on Friday – the day after pupils had taken part in a practice drill on what to do in case of a threats like these.

In text messages sent to parents, which have been seen by MailOnline, the school said: ‘The police have asked us to evacuate the school this morning after receiving an identical threat as on Friday at the same time. We will continue to update but hope the normal school day can resume shortly.’

One mother who has a 13-year-old boy at the school described the latest ordeal as ‘terrifying’. 

She told MailOnline: ‘Everything goes through your head… You don’t know if it’s real or not. Anything that could happen. Imagine if they said to the pupils that you can go in and something happens.

‘I would rather collect my kid from school but you just have to trust the police have done their job.’

In a second message sent at 9.14am – almost an hour after the evacuation – parents were told: ‘The police have given clearance for the school to reopen. All students are now returning to classrooms for registration. We will update you again this morning.’

The Oaks Park High School in Carshalton had to be evacuated for the second time in four days today

On Friday, officers rushed to the school and carried out a search of the premises.

A mother who has a 12-year-old daughter at the school revealed to MailOnline that the first incident came after the school had a practice drill 24 hours prior.

Speaking about the drill, the parent said: ‘An alarm went off and the kids had to get under tables and be still. Then this happens today which is bizarre.’

Students were spoken to and reassured before they were sent home, an email to parents seen by MailOnline revealed last week. 

Police have since said Friday’s incident is being treated as malicious communications and they have no wider concerns. 

The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said parents and guardians received a text from the school at 8.44am on Friday to say there had been an incident, the school had been evacuated, police were on site, and that parents would be updated.

The text reassured parents that pupils were safe with staff.

‘Then we got another text saying police were advising the school should not be open so the students would be dismissed,’ she said.

‘The messages were quite vague so a lot of parents were panicking.’

Children were collected at around 9am by parents who were told by teachers to ‘move away from the school quickly’.

The mother added: ‘There were a few kids who were upset but the majority of them just walked out confused.’

Parents were sent the messages above by the school which said they had received an ‘identical’ threat to the one on Friday

She said the school dealt with the incident well and had got kids away from the school building to a field.

An email from school informing parents it was a hoax bomb threat was then sent at 11.50am on Friday.

The email said: ‘Dear Parent/Carer. I am writing to update you regarding an incident at school today.

‘Early this morning, the school received a hoax bomb threat. We acted immediately and contacted the police who advised we evacuate staff and students from the school building. 

‘The police arrived promptly and carried out a search of the school premises. At this point they also advised that students should be sent home. 

‘We followed police guidance along with our own protocols and dismissed students in tutor groups, so they could be spoken to – and reassured – before they left the school site.

‘We are extremely proud of the way our students responded today, with maturity and calmness.’ 

A Met Police spokesperson told MailOnline on Friday: ‘Safety cordons were established as a precaution following receipt of a bomb threat at a school on Damson Way, Carshalton at 08:02hrs on Friday 17 November.

‘The building was evacuated whilst a search was carried out. Nothing was found and the incident is being treated as malicious communications.

‘Officers do not have wider safety concerns. There have been no arrests.’

MailOnline has contacted the Met Police and the school about the latest hoax threat. 

Oaks Park High School is a mixed comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 19.

The school website says: ‘Our goal is to help young people develop the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need to become adults we can be proud of. 

‘Our staff are fully committed to students’ wellbeing, achievement and progress in all areas.’

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