Pupils and staff flee as police and bomb squad rush to the school after a boy brings a WW2 grenade

Chaos erupted at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Ashbourne on Friday, May 16, after a pupil shocked everyone by producing a World War Two hand grenade during a school assembly. The discovery forced an immediate evacuation and prompted a swift response from police and military bomb disposal experts.

The assembly was underway when a boy, who had previously brought an old bullet case to school, revealed a much more dangerous item — a grade 5 explosive device from the Second World War. Head teacher Jeanette Hart, caught off guard, acted swiftly but cautiously. Unsure if the grenade was live, she ended the assembly and carefully removed the device from the pupil. To minimise risk, Mrs Hart took the grenade outside and hid it behind a sturdy tree in the school car park.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent happy carrying it,” Mrs Hart said in a BBC interview. “It looked old and I thought it might be safe, but I didn’t want to take the risk.” Her quick thinking helped prevent a potential disaster.

Emergency services arrived promptly, with police praising the staff’s calm and decisive action. Pupils were quickly ushered to safety while the bomb squad examined the grenade. Military technicians conducted a thorough check and confirmed the device was inert and posed no threat to anyone on the premises.

The headteacher revealed that the grenade was an innocent heirloom from the pupil’s family, who were unaware that the child had brought the device to school. The boy himself appeared oblivious to the serious danger, having believed the grenade to be a harmless relic linked to recent lessons about VE Day.

“It was quite an eventful assembly,” Mrs Hart reflected. “There was a boy with an old bullet case, which I knew about — but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket. That was unexpected.” She emphasised that the entire incident was accidental and without malice.

The incident left parents and staff shaken, and police have since issued advice urging parents to carefully check items children bring to school. They highlighted the importance of vigilance to avoid similar frightening episodes.

This extraordinary event has raised questions about how such a potentially lethal item ended up in a primary school child’s possession. It also sparked concern about the risks posed by historic military relics that remain in circulation within families, often without a clear understanding of their danger.

Osmaston CofE Primary School has since reassured parents and the local community, stating that the safety of pupils remains their utmost priority. The school praised the staff’s professionalism and the emergency services’ swift response, which prevented what could have been a tragic accident.

As investigations continue, this alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can lie dormant in seemingly harmless objects brought in for educational purposes. The school community is now working to tighten safety protocols to prevent such frightening surprises in the future.

MAEIL

During a “talking class” where students brought items of personal interest, a boy unexpectedly took out a World War II-era grenade in an elementary school classroom. The class was discussing European Victory Day when the student revealed the grenade. The teacher, Janet Hart, quickly and calmly removed the grenade and placed it safely behind a tree in the school parking lot, while other staff evacuated students.

The Army Explosive Disposal Team was called in and confirmed the grenade was safe after X-ray inspection; it contained no explosive material. No injuries occurred, but the event caused a temporary evacuation and commotion.

The student and his parents were unaware that the grenade was a live munition. Police advised parents to carefully check what children bring to school, especially family heirlooms or potentially dangerous items.

BBC

A primary school assembly was abruptly ended and the school evacuated after a pupil unexpectedly produced a World War II grenade during a show-and-tell session. The boy had brought the grenade, a family heirloom, without his parents’ knowledge.

Head teacher Jeanette Hart calmly took the device from the boy and placed it behind a large tree in the school car park before calling police and army explosive experts. The children were safely evacuated during the incident.

Experts later confirmed the grenade was safe and posed no threat. Police praised the quick-thinking staff and urged parents to check items children bring to school.

Mrs Hart said the boy had no idea of the grenade’s danger and was simply interested in its historical significance, having learned about VE Day in class.