14-Year-Old Girl Stabs Two Teachers and a Pupil at UK School

Liz Hopkin, a teacher injured in a triple stabbing at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire in April 2024, has said she “could never” return to work after the traumatic attack. Speaking for the first time since the incident, Ms Hopkin described how she intervened when a 14-year-old girl lunged at her colleague, shouting, “I’m going to kill you.” The teenager, later found guilty of attempted murder, stabbed both teachers and a pupil and was sentenced to 15 years in detention.

A newly published multi-agency review revealed the girl had a fascination with war and weapons, carried a knife to school daily, and faced mental health challenges and a troubled childhood. The report found that poor communication between agencies prevented earlier intervention.

Ms Hopkin welcomed the findings but expressed frustration, saying the issues raised were “nothing new” and urging the Welsh government to take stronger action to prevent similar tragedies.

Politicians and unions echoed her concerns, calling for urgent policy changes and better information-sharing between agencies. The Welsh government stated it is working on more effective, multi-agency approaches to tackle behavioural issues in schools.