Pupils in chemical leak terror (from www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/mercury)

Hysteria broke out among parents yesterday afternoon when emergency services were called to a chemical leak at a secondary school in Stevenage. Paramedics, five fire crews and more than 20 police officers arrived at Collenswood School from 1.15pm following reports that pupils had been taken ill with sickness and nausea. All 820 pupils were evacuated onto the school field. A number needed medical attention and the worst affected - 25 youngsters in Year 7 and a teacher - were taken to Lister Hospital for precautionary checks.
Hundreds of parents gathered at the school gates from 3.15pm, desperate to find out if their children were safe. Many had rung the school as rumours spread like wildfire, and at 4.08pm a police officer posted at each entrance to the school announced there had been a chemical leak in the science and ceramics laboratories.
Bev Lavender, of Lapwing Rise, rushed to the school to be informed by the deputy head that her 11-year-old daughter Nicole was with paramedics. She said: "I was at home when the school where I work, Bedwell, informed me at lunchtime what had happened, but the full details were unclear. It wasn't till I got there I was told that Nicole had been involved. I was panicked initially, but when I spoke to the head she told me Nicole was being taken care of." The evacuated pupils were supervised until firefighters confirmed the school building was safe to re-enter. The students were guided to the school hall, where they were updated before being sent home. A sigh rippled through the crowd of parents. However, some were still upset by the way the school had dealt with it.
Jacqui Law was alerted when her daughter, Kayleigh, in Year 9 called her after lunch on her mobile, claiming she had been told she could not leave. She said: "Kayleigh was hysterical. She couldn't find her little sister, Maddison, in Year 7. I managed to calm her down and call her back, by which time she'd found Maddison. We called the school over and over but couldn't get through. It was very stressful." Another parent, Mandy Main, added: "We heard nothing from the school and no notice was pinned to the gate. It was really frightening. If I hadn't heard through other mums I would still be waiting for my daughter Francesca to come home. If it wasn't for our kids having mobiles, which they were later told they couldn't use, we wouldn't know where they were or if they were safe. Anything could have happened today. It doesn't bear thinking about, given the recent events in Russia."
The cause of the outbreak of illness is being investigated.

COLLENSWOOD SCHOOL INCIDENT (from www.herts.police.uk)

AN investigation to establish the source behind the sudden illness of a number of students at Collenswood School, Stevenage continues today. All 820 pupils at the school were evacuated as a result of the incident, which began just after 1pm on Thursday September 9th, 2004. Pupils have not returned to the school today.
Everyone who was taken to the Lister Hospital yesterday in relation to the incident have now been discharged. On admission yesterday people where checked over as a precautionary measure and released soon afterwards.
At this stage the cause of the outbreak has not been established. Police and environmental health officers are still at the school in Stevenage conducting a detailed investigation.
Chief Superintendent Gary Kitching, who is leading the operation for the Constabulary said: "We believe this was a localised incident centred around the pottery and science block of the school. No-one remains in hospital today as a result of the incident. However we do appreciate that this would have been a traumatic and worrying for all those involved and everything possible is being done to identify the cause of the illness."

Update in relation to incident at Collenswood School (from www.hertsdirect.org)

The police have now completed their examinations of Collenswood School in Stevenage following an incident on Thursday in which a number of pupils complained of symptoms including headaches and nausea. The site has now been handed back to the Local Education Authority. After detailed examination environmental and public health experts have confirmed that the school poses no risk to the health of pupils and staff.
Those who attended the Lister hospital in relation to the incident have all been released after receiving little or no treatment. Many of them were displaying symptoms of anxiety and some were referred as a matter of procedure.
Despite detailed investigations no identifiable cause for the incident has yet been established. It is however clear that a number of unrelated incidents involving the health of some pupils could have contributed to a general feeling of concern at the school on Thursday.
In order for the school to be prepared for lessons as normal on Tuesday there will be a training day for staff only on Monday. If parents have any further concerns staff will be available on Monday to speak to parents of Years 7, 8 and 9 pupils between 10am and 12pm and to parents of Years 10 and above between 1pm and 3pm.
All parents will be contacted by letter. All agencies involved would like to thank parents for their patience and understanding at what must have been a worrying time. The priority throughout has been to protect the health and wellbeing of children and staff at Collenswood school and the general public.
Enquiries into the incident are ongoing in order to fully understand what happened. Updates will be given as and when there is any further information. School staff are looking forward to seeing the children on Tuesday morning.

School illness was mass hysteria
Dominic Hayes, Evening Standard Education Correspondent (from www.thisislondon.co.uk)

A mystery illness which led to more than 50 schoolchildren and adults being taken to hospital may have been simply mass hysteria, it emerged today. A total of 53 pupils and adults were examined by doctors after suddenly developing sickness and headaches. Police and paramedics went to Collenswood School in Stevenage, on Thursday and ordered the evacuation of all 820 pupils and staff. Experts examined the buildings for clues to what caused the illness. Police sealed off the road leading to the school and announcements on local radio asked parents to contact police if their child had not returned home.
However, it now seems there was no physical reason for the mass sickness. A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said: "Something must have caused this but we can't find it. There were children and adults who felt nauseous and a couple of adults had fainted but by the time paramedics arrived they were okay. We cannot categorically say it was a case of mass hysteria but we were rather surprised by the number of people who felt they were ill. I guess parents didn't want to risk anything and children might want a day off school."
Police and public health officials have now declared the school safe. The 53 children and adults were checked by doctors at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage but later allowed home.
Consultant clinical psychologist Khwaja Abbas said: "When one person feels ill it is not uncommon for others around them to have the same symptoms. It is not hypochondria, the symptoms can be quite real. Mass hysteria is a likely explanation for what happened at the school."