CONCERNS are mounting over a growing number of school safety incidents across Wales after police enforced the closure of two Cardiff schools this week.
Llanishen High School and Eastern High School were closed on Monday (Mar 16) after South Wales Police received a report on Sunday evening. Officers said the decision was taken as a precaution while enquiries continue.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of the report that prompted the closures, but the incident has raised wider questions about the number of schools being forced into lockdown or temporary closure following threats or safety concerns.
The Cardiff case is the latest in a series of incidents affecting schools across Wales over the past year.
Earlier this month, Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais was placed into lockdown after police received reports of threats of violence sent digitally. A seventeen-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident, which caused alarm among pupils and staff.
In February this year, Milford Haven School in Pembrokeshire went into lockdown after emergency services were called to a serious incident involving a pupil and a weapon. A fifteen-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the incident.
In another case, Ysgol Harri Tudur in Pembroke was placed in lockdown after threatening messages were received suggesting a pupil may have brought a knife onto the school site. Police attended while staff secured the school.
North Wales has also seen similar concerns. Ysgol y Grango in Wrexham was placed into lockdown after a threat was reported, with police attending while pupils were kept inside classrooms.
Another incident in November 2025 saw Dafen Community Primary School in Llanelli close for the day after online messages warned people would arrive at the school with knives. Police confirmed the closure was a precaution while the threats were investigated.
While many incidents ultimately prove to be hoaxes, rumours or isolated events, education leaders say the rapid spread of messages on social media has created new challenges for schools.
Threats or rumours shared on platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp can circulate quickly among pupils, sometimes triggering widespread concern before school staff have time to verify the information.
The issue has also drawn political attention.
Commenting on the latest Cardiff closures, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education Natasha Asghar MS said: “This is a deeply concerning situation for parents, pupils and staff, and I hope the police can carry out a swift investigation to avoid further disruption to families.
“Teachers and pupils must feel safe in school, and incidents like this raise serious concerns about safety.
“The Welsh Conservatives would restore discipline by introducing automatic exclusions for pupils who carry weapons, helping create a safer environment for students and staff.”
Debate around school safety intensified following the stabbing attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford in April 2024, when two teachers and a pupil were seriously injured.
The teenager responsible was later convicted of attempted murder, prompting calls for stronger measures to prevent weapons being brought into schools.
Despite the recent incidents, education leaders stress that schools remain safe environments for the vast majority of pupils. However, the combination of online threats, heightened safeguarding rules and rapid information sharing among students means schools and police are increasingly taking precautionary measures to protect staff and children.
With investigations continuing into the Cardiff closures, parents and teachers across Wales will be watching closely to see whether the incidents represent a worrying trend or a series of isolated cases..
