A pupil has been excluded after threatening children with a knife at a grammar school.

The 11-year-old boy brandished the blade at Harvey Grammar in Folkestone at lunchtime on Thursday. No children were injured.

Deputy headteacher Andy Allon said the school, based in Cheriton Road, is working closely with police and all parties involved to reach a resolution following the incident.

It is the first incident of its kind at the all-boys' school and the child had shown no previous examples of anti-social behaviour, Mr Allon added.

He said: “One of our Year 7 students, who has only been with us for a few weeks, found a knife and brought it into school on Thursday and threatened other students.

“We have excluded that student for a significant period of time.

“We will work very closely with police and all of those parties involved.

“This is an isolated incident. We have never had anything like this happen before" - Andy Allon

“This is an isolated incident. We have never had anything like this happen before.

Mr Allan added the school, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, will take no further security measures because the incident is so rare.

Concerned parents met with the deputy head on Monday morning to voice their fears.

One parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “My child witnessed the incident.

“He said the boy was threatening students with the knife at lunchtime, and was making them jump into brambles saying he would cut them if they didn’t.”

Kent Police said it is investigating the incident.

A spokesman said: "Today (October 2) Kent Police was made aware of an incident believed to have occurred at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone on September 28.

"Enquiries into the matter are ongoing."