West Derby School Closed Due to Serious Emergency Incident

Emails and text messages sent to parents and carers warned of a closure on Wednesday A school in Liverpool will be closed tomorrow after staff warned parents of a "serious emergency situation". West Derby School, an all-boys academy on West Derby Road, sent emails and text messages to parents and carers informing them the school would not open on Wednesday, January 21. In a message understood to have been sent shortly before 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 20, the school said it had taken the decision to close due to a serious emergency. Parents were told a further update would be provided the following day. The message read: "Dear parents and carers, due to a serious emergency situation, we have made the decision to close the school on Wednesday January 21. "Mrs Graham will send a letter to all parents and carers tomorrow with a further update. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. "Work will be available on satchel:one for all students to complete for the lessons they would have attended. Please pass this message to anyone you believe may not see this communication. "We appreciate your understanding and support at this time. Many thanks, West Derby School." A separate email sent by the school confirmed the closure, stating: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the school will be closed on Wednesday 21st January 2026." The email also advised students on how to access online work while the school remains closed. Merseyside Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing after reports of malicious communications at several Merseyside schools. Police said a number of schools have received similar email communications. Police believe these to be hoaxes at this stage, and said the force will be looking to identify those involved and take appropriate action. Chief Inspector Dave Currie said: “We understand the concern and rumours that can arise from such incidents, and as a result we are liaising with all schools and providing advice and reassurance as enquiries continue. “The relevant schools are also communicating with parents and carers. Based on the information we have received and assessed, there has been no requirement for those schools to close.” West Derby School has been approached for comment. If you have any information, you can call 101 or DM @MerpolCC on social media, quoting log number 649 of 20 January. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/news Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time.