Police logs also showed knives and a 3D-printed knuckle duster were used in crimes on school grounds last year. And even maths compasses, rulers, and drumsticks were used during scraps.
Nearly 4,000 deadly weapons have been seized in schools after being used in fights, shock figures show. Guns, a Samurai sword, a javelin and a chainsaw were among the arsenal found by police in the past three years.
Police logs also showed knives and a 3D-printed knuckle duster were used in crimes on school grounds last year. And even maths compasses, rulers, and drumsticks were used during scraps.
Patrick Green, CEO of anti-knife crime campaigners The Ben Kinsella Trust, said “The volume and range of weapons being found in schools is profoundly alarming.”
He added: “Schools and police must continue to take robust action when weapons are found. But enforcement alone will never solve this issue.
“We need to place much greater emphasis on prevention and ensure young people receive the support and education they need before they ever consider carrying a weapon.”
The shock data also showed a gun was found in one incident in West Mercia, while Avon and Somerset Police seized a pistol.
Hampshire Police said it had incidents with a wrench, a flick knife and a machete.
Separate figures by the Department for Education showed there was a record 15,308 times last year where kids were sent home for a weapon-related offence. And another 766 pupils were expelled.
The stats showed Year 9 and Year 10 children were suspended the most for weapons incidents.
Jane Peckham, from teachers’ union NASUWT, said: “Schools should take all reasonable steps to prevent this and send out strong messages to pupils and the community that they operate a zero-tolerance approach to weapon carrying and will report all incidents to the police.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Weapons have no place in schools and serious violence, including knife crime, has a devastating impact on children and communities, and the government is addressing this as a top priority.
“Across government, we’re tackling knife crime by banning zombie-style knives and ninja swords, strengthening age verification for online knife sales, and rolling out schemes to prevent young people from being drawn into violent crime.”