School lab chemical poisoning Oxfordshire
A worrying incident has emerged from Lord Williams’s School in Thame, Oxfordshire, where three secondary school students were rushed to hospital after ingesting a chemical taken from a school laboratory. According to local reports, the chemical in question was diluted copper sulphate, which the children reportedly added to their own water bottles after being drawn to its bright color during a science lesson.
The school’s headteacher, Neil Dimbleby, confirmed that the students remained in hospital overnight. He said the school alerted Thames Valley Police, who are now working with the school to investigate how the chemical was accessed and why students were able to handle it in this way.
Fortunately, the children have since been discharged and are back at home, the headteacher said. He also expressed relief at their recovery, stressing that the school is reviewing its lab safety protocols and storage procedures to prevent such a dangerous situation from recurring.
The incident underscores major concerns about laboratory safety in schools, particularly the handling and secure storage of chemicals. Parents of other students at the school are reportedly anxious, and some have already contacted the authorities.
