Parents and pupils have dismissed a gun incident at a Mill Hill school as a “one-off”.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested a fortnight ago after bringing in a handgun, thought to be a starter pistol, to Mill Hill County High School, in Worcester Crescent.

Armed police descended on the school on Friday, March 20, after a teacher heard reports there was a gun on school grounds. But this week it was business as usual at the well-respected high school.

A-level student Jai Andrews, 17, said: “I don’t think anyone was ever at risk, but because of the nature of it, they had to call in the armed police. It’s not like he was coming in to shoot lots of students.

“He told a friend he had it, who told another mate, who told a teacher and they called in the SWAT team. Straight away all the younger kids were kept out in the playground.

“No one knew exactly what was going on, everyone was quite confused. We just saw armed police coming in and cars coming in and out of the school, and obviously lots of different versions of what was going on started coming out.

“What was quite interesting was that no one was scared, they were just confused.”

One mother with an 11-year-old daughter at the school, who did not want to be named, praised school staff for their quick reponse.

“From what I heard they were well organised and had the safety of the children at the forefront of their thoughts the whole time. I’m sure the whole situation was very serious but it’s been dealt with very well.

“This could happen at any school. It’s entirely down to the individual, the one child and what’s happening in his life. I don’t blame the school at all.

“Mill Hill’s a school with an excellent reputation and it’s very strong on discipline. This was a one-off and it hasn't worried me in the slightest.”

William Jones, 70, whose granddaughter is a pupil at Mill Hill County, added: “There’s no deterrent for children now. I do worry about it. We’re just hoping it’s a one off because Mill Hill is an excellent school.

“When I was their age the most we got up to was a fight. If someone fell on the floor or started crying it was over and you were mates again. There’s nothing like that any more.”

A 16-year-old boy has been released on bail pending further inquiries.