Key Points
- St Cuthbert’s RC High School in Rochdale was evacuated and shut down on Friday, 16 October 2026, following a message regarding a possible bomb threat.
- The school, located at Shaw Road, was put under lockdown and evacuated as a precaution.
- Greater Manchester Police came to the scene, conducted their assessment, and stated that the call was most likely a hoax.
- The school trust confirmed that all children and staff were accounted for and safe.
- Parents and caregivers were informed that they could pick up their children or grant permission for them to go back home.
- Security experts were scheduled to conduct a complete inspection of the building in the afternoon of Friday, 16 October 2026.
- It was requested by the trust that people refrain from spreading any rumors on social media, claiming intruders or weapons, stating that those rumors were not true.
- The school is expected to open normally on Monday, 19 October 2026.
- One parent complained about the communication regarding the situation, describing it as “very poor”.
Rochdale (Manchester Mirror) October 16, 2026 — A Rochdale secondary school was evacuated and closed for the day after staff received a communication indicating a possible bomb threat, with Greater Manchester Police later saying the call was likely a hoax.
As reported by Roch Valley Radio, St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust said emergency services were contacted after staff at St Cuthbert’s RC High School received the communication on Friday morning. The school, located on Shaw Road, was placed on lockdown and all buildings were evacuated as a precaution, with pupils moved to a safe distance.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that the school took the precautionary step after receiving what it described as an alarming call on the morning of Friday, 16 October, and that GMP responded to the Shaw Road site.
Were pupils and staff safe?
The trust said all children and staff were safe and accounted for, in line with its established procedures. It added that parents and carers were notified immediately that children had been moved to safety and that there was no danger to anyone present.
In a statement quoted by the Manchester Evening News, a spokesperson for St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic School said:
“Earlier today (Friday, October 16, 2026) staff at St Cuthbert’s RC Secondary School in Rochdale received a message indicating a potential bomb threat to the facility.”
The spokesperson said emergency services were alerted and all school buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
The trust told Roch Valley Radio:
“All children and staff are safe and accounted for, in line with our established procedures.”
What did Greater Manchester Police say?
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the school had implemented a lockdown in response to the call. Officers attended the school and carried out an assessment, which indicated that the call was likely a hoax.
A GMP spokesperson told Roch Valley Radio: “Officers attended and carried out an assessment which indicated that the call was a likely hoax. Officers are investigating the circumstances of the call.”
The Manchester Evening News similarly quoted a GMP spokesperson as saying that officers arrived, conducted an assessment and suggested the call was likely a hoax, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the call remained ongoing.
Why was the school closed?
The school was closed for the remainder of Friday while police and security checks were carried out. St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust said specialist security operatives would conduct a full sweep of the building on Friday afternoon to establish whether further action was required.
Parents and carers were told they could collect their children or give permission for them to travel home. Roch Valley Radio reported that calls to the school office were later met with a recorded message saying the school was closed.
The trust said it expected the school to operate normally on Monday, 19 October, but would provide further updates as needed.
What did parents say about communication?
One parent criticised the school’s communication during the incident. As reported by Roch Valley Radio, the parent said they received an initial message through Arbor at 9.22am and the next update at 11.07am, with an email arriving later.
The parent said: “Communication to parents was very poor.” They said they understood the situation but believed more updates should have been provided while parents were worried.
Roch Valley Radio said it approached the school office, headteacher and trust for comment during the morning.
What has the trust said about rumours?
The trust urged people to avoid speculation on social media. It described rumours about intruders or weapons on school premises as false.
The Manchester Evening News also reported that the public was urged not to spread speculation on social media about “false rumours” relating to intruders or weapons discovered on the school grounds.
The trust said further information would be provided following consultation with Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Borough Council.
Background of the development
St Cuthbert’s RC High School is a secondary school on Shaw Road in Thornham, Rochdale, and is listed by the Department for Education as St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy. Its address is recorded as Shaw Road, Thornham, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL16 4RX.
The school is part of St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust, which issued the statements about the evacuation, pupil safety and planned reopening. The incident occurred on Friday, 16 October 2026, and police said they were investigating the circumstances of the suspected hoax call.
Prediction: How this may affect Rochdale parents and pupils
For parents and carers in Rochdale, the development is likely to increase attention on how quickly schools communicate during security incidents. The reported gap between the first Arbor message at 9.22am and the next update at 11.07am may lead some families to seek clearer reassurance about update frequency, collection arrangements and pupil safety.
For pupils and staff, the closure and police response may cause disruption to lessons, travel arrangements and after-school plans, although the trust has said it expects normal operations to resume on Monday, 19 October. Parents may also monitor official school and trust communications rather than social-media claims, particularly after the trust said rumours about intruders or weapons were false.
For the wider school community, the police investigation could determine whether any further action follows. Until then, the main practical impact is the Friday closure, the security sweep and the expectation that the school will reopen as normal next week.
