Harvey Willgoose’s mum says knife arch 'could have prevented his death'

The grieving parents of Harvey Willgoose have called on the government to do more to keep children safe in schools.

Speaking to ITV News, Harvey’s mother Caroline said that her son’s death “could’ve been prevented” if knife arches were installed in schools.

Since their son’s death, Caroline and Mark Willgoose have launched a campaign to get knife arches installed in schools, pushing for stronger measures to protect pupils from knife violence.

They invited ITV News to film a day they have long been waiting for – the installation of a knife arch in a school, in Harvey’s name.

The arch, installed at Penistone Grammar School in Sheffield, is the first to be donated by the foundation set up in Harvey’s memory.

“They’re frightened anyway”: Caroline Willgoose hopes the knife arches act as a reassurance for schoolchildren.

Ms Willgoose has said that Harvey’s death must not be in vain and is urging ministers to act swiftly so that his legacy becomes safer schools for every child.

She hopes that other schools will “follow suit” and implement measures to prevent tragedies like her son’s from happening again.

Addressing concerns about placing knife arches in schools, Ms Willgoose said, “I’m not scaremongering, but there is a big problem out there. People say it’s frightening for children to go through arches – but they’re frightened anyway.”

In schools, some teachers are welcoming a national rollout of knife arches, saying it would be an “extra layer and extra tool in our kit” to ensure pupils are fully supported.

The Principal of Penistone Grammar School, Peter Crook, who accepted the knife arch, said he “wishes” all educational settings could have these arches installed.

He explained that it “isn’t a big amount of money” to add an extra level of safety for students.

While the school has stressed that it does not have a knife crime problem, Mr Crook added: “I don’t think funding should be a barrier here. The portable knife arch that we’ve had done here is about £2500.

“In school budgets, multi-academy trust budgets, DfE [Department for Education] budgets – even though things are tight in education at the moment – I’m sure, as school leaders, we can find £2500 to ensure an extra layer of safety.”

“I don’t think funding should be a barrier”: Principal of Penistone Grammar School, Peter Crook believes the cost of knife arches is worth it for the additional safety they could provide

One of the UK’s leading knife arch manufacturers, RISK Metal Detectors, told ITV News that its biggest UK client is now schools.

Byron Logue, the company’s managing director, said that over the past year, they have “seen a massive uptake in schools, who are now representing the largest single customer base in the UK.”

Mr Logue added that knife arches have “picked up a lot of steam in the education field” in the last year alone.

On 3rd February 2025, a then 15-year-old boy brought a 13cm serrated knife into All Saints High School in Sheffield.

The defendant, Mohammed Umar Khan stabbed fellow pupil Harvey Willgoose in the courtyard.

Within a minute, Harvey lost consciousness and tragically died from his injuries.

Caroline and Mark believe Harvey’s legacy is already taking shape, saying that their son’s death has already created “change.”

Other schools across the country have started installing knife arches, but Harvey’s parents want this measure to be adopted in every educational setting across the UK.

Speaking at Penistone Grammar School as the knife arch was installed, Caroline said of her son: “I know he’s here now. I can feel he’s here. He’s proud of us. Our Harvey has changed this.”