A CONCERNED dad has hit out after he claimed school staff helped his daughter make a “knife-like” object in class.

The dad, who asked not to be named, called the police after his 11-year-old brought the metal “weapon” home having made it in a design technology lesson.

He claimed his daughter, who attends Harwich and Dovercourt High School, said she was welding left over metal with the help of an adult to create the object.

He said: “It is not sharp, but it is made of metal, four inches long and about an inch thick.

“The school needs to make sure they know what they are letting students make.”

Harwich and Dovercourt High School has strongly denied any suggestion that it would allow or assist a pupil to make a knife in school.

Lynne Gettings, deputy headteacher, said: “We take the safety and well-being of our pupils extremely seriously.

“Year sevens recently took part in a series of projects as part of a special design and technology week, including making small welded sculptures.

“Examples of the sculptures created by students were a star, a raft, a sail and a heart.

“There was one project which this particular pupil did not complete and it is an incomplete component of this sculpture that is being claimed by the parent to be a knife.

“The allegations made against the school and its staff have been investigated and I am satisfied they are entirely unfounded.

“If we considered any pupil had deliberately made a knife in school, we would, of course, have taken appropriate action.

“We do not feel any such action is necessary.”

Essex Police received a report at 5pm on Friday, July 7, that a girl was in possession of a knife after coming home from school.

They are investigating the circumstances and are working closely with the school.