Wales to develop guidance on weapon incidents in schools

New resources are being developed to support schools and education settings in Wales to deal with incidents involving weapons, building on existing national guidance and best practice.

The work builds on guidance launched by Cardiff Council in autumn 2025, which provides clear and practical advice for schools responding to incidents where weapons are brought onto school premises.

Cardiff Council will lead the work in partnership with local authorities and key organisations to develop resources that help schools manage situations where a child brings a weapon onto school grounds, or is reasonably suspected of being in possession of one. The aim is to ensure a clear, fair and trauma-informed response that prioritises safety, safeguarding and support for both staff and learners.

The development process will involve engagement with partners across Wales and will be informed by best practice, the latest evidence, and the views of young people, families and communities.

Based on the principles of Cardiff’s Weapons in Schools and Education Settings (WISES) protocol, the working group will produce an adaptable set of resources for schools and local authorities. These will complement the Welsh Government’s existing Safe and effective intervention: use of reasonable force and searching for weapons guidance, which sets out how schools in Wales can search pupils suspected of carrying a weapon.

The new resources aim to promote understanding of legal requirements, ensure a robust and consistent approach across Wales, and provide appropriate safeguarding and support for everyone involved, including learners found to be in possession of a weapon.

Cardiff Council’s WISES guidance was co-produced with a wide range of partners, including South Wales Police, school governors, trade unions, youth services and violence prevention experts, with children and young people also consulted as part of the process.

Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "The news that Welsh Government has chosen to adopt Cardiff’s guidance as the basis for a national roll-out is incredibly positive. This is a significant endorsement of the work we have developed with schools, partners and communities, and reflects the impact it is already having in helping to keep young people and school staff safe.

"The guidance has been recognised as national best practice, winning at the Wales Safer Communities Awards, and its adoption across Wales means even more schools will benefit from a clear, consistent and supportive approach. This is a proud moment for Cardiff and a positive step for children and young people across the country."

The work will be supported by up to £300,000 in funding over the next 12 months, with the aim of making the resources fully available across Wales in 2027. The Welsh Government says the new materials will help schools work closely with families and other services to ensure the right support is in place while maintaining safety for staff and learners.