A TEACHING union has condemned a “frightening” attack on a teacher that has seen a 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Milford Haven Comprehensive School in the Pembrokeshire region of south-west Wales remained closed today after police said that a pupil “brandishing a weapon” allegedly assaulted a teacher at about 3.20pm on Thursday.

A boy who was arrested remained in police custody today and the teacher has been discharged from hospital. Dyfed-Powys Police said that they had not been stabbed and all pupils returned home unharmed.

NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack said: “We are distressed to hear that following the incident, a young person has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Schools should be places of safety and learning — not fear and violence.

“The coming days will be very challenging for everyone at the school, and as the teachers’ union, we will be standing by to offer all the support we can.”

The union’s national official for Wales, Neil Butler, said: “With increasing regularity, teachers are arriving at school in their own cars but leaving in ambulances. Today’s events are frightening.

“Teachers sign up to become stewards of the next generation, and to share their joy and passion for education. We must remember that like everyone else, they are entitled to be safe at work.

“We wish the injured teacher a full and swift recovery. But it may not be that simple. As violence in schools increases, teachers will need more than hopes and prayers.”

NASUWT’s latest Behaviour in Schools Report found that four in 10 teachers have experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the 12 months to last May.

More than four in five reported verbal abuse or violence from pupils, feeling the number of pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviours has increased and a rise in the number of pupils verbally abusing staff members.

Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan has said that she was “deeply concerned by the incident” and “violence of any kind has no place in our schools.”

Labour’s Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell said: “Normally you read about these reports … in the States.”

Pembrokeshire County Council leader Jon Harvey thanked staff and pupils “for implementing a swift and effective lockdown in response to this incident.”