A Kaiapoi High School staff member has disputed claims students responded appropriately during today’s lockdown.

The school was placed into lockdown this afternoon after what Acting Principal Nathan Sandes described as “an incident involving a student acting violently and erratically on the back field at second break.”

Following the incident, Sandes praised students for their response.

“Students responded positively and followed directions of our teachers,” he said.

“We are very proud of them for taking this incident seriously” he told parents in an email.

However, a staff member who contacted Chris Lynch Media on condition of anonymity strongly disputed that account.

“This is simply not true. I was in shock trying to help teachers to get students to take this seriously, we were on the floor, staying away from windows and constantly having to ask students to be silent and stay away from windows.”

The staff member said some students ignored repeated instructions from teachers and continued using their phones despite being told to stop.

“Before this others outside disrespected and didn’t listen to staff trying to get them inside away from harm.

Others consistently were on their phones after being told many times to get off them.”

“They were laughing. I advised them several times to take this seriously, as I didn’t know the details but that the school wouldn’t be in lockdown if it wasn’t serious.”

The staff member said students were repeatedly told the situation was not a drill.

Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer said police responded to a report of a disorder at the school.

“The school has initiated a lockdown as per their protocols,” Keer-Keer said.

A police spokeswoman later confirmed one person was transported to hospital by ambulance before officers left the scene.

St John said it was notified of the incident at 2.03pm and sent one ambulance and one operations manager.

“Our ambulance staff treated one patient and transported them to Christchurch Public Hospital in a moderate condition,” a spokeswoman said.

One student told Chris Lynch Media a female student appeared intoxicated and was acting aggressively before the lockdown began.

Another alleged the student became physically aggressive toward staff.

Parents also expressed frustration over the lack of information provided during the incident.

One parent told Chris Lynch Media, “My daughter is at Kaiapoi High School and the email we got sent by school was so vague.

“The media has given more details than school has given us parents. It is not good enough.”

Coralanne Child, Director of Education for Canterbury from the Education Ministry, said support had been offered to the school following the incident.

Kaiapoi High School was approached for comment this afternoon but did not respond.