A 16-year-old girl who was charged with attempted murder after a welfare officer was stabbed at a school has been remanded in youth custody by a district judge.
Joy Simon, 61, was injured in an incident at Winterton Community Academy, near Scunthorpe, on Monday morning.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Grimsby Youth Court on Wednesday, charged with attempted murder and carrying a small kitchen knife on school premises.
Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson outside Winterton Community Academy (Nigel Roddis/PA)
The teenager stood in the glass-fronted dock for the 20-minute hearing flanked by two security officers. She only spoke to confirm her name and personal details.
Her parents were in court, a short distance away from their daughter. As the girl was led from the dock she waved at her mother and father and, when they blew her a kiss, she returned the gesture.
District Judge Daniel Curtis told her that she will appear again before a judge at Hull Crown Court on Friday.
On Tuesday, Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson, of Humberside Police, said Mrs Simon was in hospital and “is as well as can be expected following this serious incident”.
“Our inquiries are continuing and a police presence remains in the school as reassurance to pupils and staff,” she added.
Headteacher Gareth Morris (Dave Higgens/PA)
Police have stressed that the incident did not happen in a classroom and officers responded to reports of a fight in an office in the school.
Headteacher Gareth Morris has described the incident as horrific. He said Mrs Simon was “a very well-regarded member of staff – a very important member of our pastoral team”.
In a statement on the school website Mr Morris said: “I am, however, happy to report that her injuries are not life-threatening and she is as comfortable as she can be under these circumstances. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this time.”