A major police operation is taking place at Porirua’s Aotea College after an alleged threat by a boy at the school this morning.
The mayhem happened during NCEA exams.
Posts on the college’s Facebook page confirm the school is closed and exams have been cancelled:
‘Thank you to everyone for your patience. We are waiting for the Police to complete their perimeter check before moving towards our managed exit plan for students. We will send out further communication before this commences.
‘The school is now closed on the advice of the Police as a precautionary measure. An organised exit of students from the school will occur as we come out of a lockdown. Parents may collect students from from Okowai Road and Frances Brown entrances. Parents will not be allowed to come on site.
Thank you for your assistance.
‘The NZQA Level 1 Music, Level 2 Accounting and Level 3 History exams being held at Aotea College this afternoon will not go ahead. All students choosing to sit these exams will need to go to Mana College, where they can take the exams. Mana College is prepared to accept any Aotea College students for afternoon exams. for our level 3 students sitting the Digital History exam please take your device with you as Mana can accommodate the digital exam, please arrive by 1.00pm to sort WIFI connection.
Students with SAC conditions, Mana College has organised and will ensure these conditions are met.
‘We will be able to apply for derived grades for students affected by the disruption to both the morning and afternoon exam sessions. Any students unable to attend exams on Thursday 10 November due to the effects of today’s lockdown will need to contact the school, we will then give them further advice on how they can apply for a derived grade.’
An update 9 minutes ago confirmed the police exit plan was now being implemented.
‘An amazing effort from everyone to keep everyone safe and calm while we have been under guidance of the Police.
‘We are now starting our managed exit plan with students in the gym and small gym. Kate Gainsford and the Police will then work through the school and escort groups of students down towards Frances Brown for collection.
‘Students that have parents here will be escorted off site and those that need to wait for the bus or an alternative route home will be escorted to Te Manawa for further instruction.’
Updates to follow.
