A headteacher has moved to reassure parents after a 14-year-old was allegedly found with a six-inch knife at a school rated 'outstanding' for child safety.

The teenager, a pupil at the school at the time who cannot be named for legal reasons and has since been excluded, was on June 10 charged with possessing the blade at Debden Park High School.

Despite the boy appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court last Thursday, court officials have refused to provide details of the outcome of the hearing but have not explained why.

And in the wake of the disturbing incident, headteacher Christian Cavanagh assured the Guardian that parents do not need to worry about their children's welfare.

He refused to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, but it is understood a member of staff claimed to have found the weapon on the boy.

Mr Cavanagh said: "Ofsted recently awarded us a ‘Good’ rating and we were given an ‘Outstanding’ for behaviour and safety.

"This school prides itself on making sure that pupils are safe.

"That kind of behaviour is not tolerated here. I can assure you that for all the years that I have been here this is the first time that a weapon has been brought into school.

"The student involved no longer attends Debden Park High School."