On March 9, 2026, a wave of anxiety swept across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area as multiple schools received chilling threats via email, prompting swift action from school leaders and a visible police presence outside school gates. Parents found themselves frantically checking their phones, children were told to stay home, and rumors ricocheted across social media. Yet, as the dust settled, authorities were quick to reassure the public that the threats—though deeply unsettling—were believed to be elaborate hoaxes.
According to BBC News, thousands of parents across Merseyside were contacted after a series of “hoax” threats landed in the inboxes of several schools. Merseyside Police confirmed that these malicious communications were not considered genuine, but investigations were underway to trace the sender or senders. The force emphasized that, based on their assessment, there was no requirement for schools to close, though some institutions—most notably LIPA Primary and High School in Liverpool City Centre—opted to err on the side of caution and told families not to attend on Monday morning.
Among the schools affected, LIPA School stood out. In a letter to parents, headteacher Claire McKendrick explained the difficult decision to close for the day: “I am writing to inform you that we have made the unfortunate decision to close the school today. This morning, the school received a bomb threat and a threat to cause harm. Whilst these types of messages are, in most cases, hoaxes, the heightened media attention surrounding the school in recent days means we must treat this as a serious and credible risk. We are currently working closely with Merseyside Police, who are supporting us in ensuring the safety of our pupils, staff, and wider community.”
Photographs captured police officers stationed outside LIPA School, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities approached the situation. Yet, as McKendrick’s letter acknowledged, these incidents are often hoaxes. The context, however, made this threat feel different: LIPA School had recently been the subject of intense media scrutiny following a damning Ofsted report, special measures, and the announcement that the school would close permanently in summer 2026 due to financial deficits, falling pupil numbers, and inadequate facilities. The heightened attention, school leaders believed, warranted an abundance of caution.
LIPA School was not alone in its response. As reported by Express and Liverpool Echo, Chesterfield High School in Crosby also received a malicious communication in the early hours of March 9. Following national policy, the school’s leadership immediately initiated a temporary lockdown while emergency services were contacted. A statement from the headteacher explained, “We liaised with officers from Merseyside Police on site who advised our leadership team that they did not believe the communications in question to be credible. Following this guidance we took the decision to lift the temporary lockdown and normal learning has resumed. We would like to thank our staff and pupils for their impeccable behaviour in observing and adhering to our procedures.”
Other schools—including Maricourt Catholic High School in Maghull, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Huyton, Sudley Primary School in Aigburth, Runnymede St Edwards Primary School in West Derby, and Mosspits Primary School in Wavertree—also sent precautionary messages to parents. While the exact number of schools targeted remained unclear, it was evident the impact was widespread, with thousands of families receiving notifications and, in some cases, opting to keep their children at home.
The contents of the threatening email, according to BBC News, were especially alarming. The message was signed off in the name of a Merseyside criminal currently serving a prison sentence overseas for hacking and fraud offenses. While the email did not specify a particular school as a target, its vague threat to “schools” in Liverpool was enough to set nerves on edge.
Chesterfield High School’s quick response and subsequent return to normalcy provided a model of crisis management. Staff and pupils were commended for their calm adherence to lockdown procedures, and the school resumed its regular schedule once police deemed the threat not credible. As one spokesperson noted, “Upon discovery of the email this morning our leadership team took the decision to enter a temporary lockdown procedure, as is national policy, while emergency services were contacted. We liaised with officers from Merseyside Police on site who advised our leadership team that they did not believe the communications in question to be credible.”
Throughout the day, Merseyside Police worked closely with affected schools, providing advice and reassurance. Chief Inspector Phil Thompson addressed public concerns, stating, “We understand that parents and carers will be concerned and as a result we are liaising with all schools and providing advice and reassurance as enquiries continue. Based on the information we have received and assessed, there has been no requirement for those schools to close.”
Despite the police’s steady messaging, the incident sparked a wave of parental anxiety. According to BBC News, a significant number of parents collected their children from schools, even as local authorities such as Sefton Council urged calm. “This communication is not believed to be credible, however this has led to understandable concern from some parents,” the council stated. “We can confirm once again all schools in Sefton are functioning as normal. Pupils should not be removed from school grounds in relation to this matter. Doing so may cause further unnecessary concern and disrupt learning.”
Police also cautioned the public against spreading rumors or misinformation online. Detective Inspector John Black emphasized, “This matter is being treated as a hoax, but we are aware of rumours circulating on social media which are creating additional concerns for parents and guardians. At this stage no arrests have been made but we will issue appropriate updates when available and continue to liaise with those schools affected.”
While no arrests had been made as of March 9, Merseyside Police assured the public that investigations were ongoing. Officers were actively seeking to identify those responsible for the malicious communications and pledged to take appropriate action once the culprits were found.
For LIPA School, the incident was another blow in a difficult year. The school, which shares a name with Paul McCartney’s arts institute but is run by a separate trust, had already endured a damning Ofsted report, an inadequate rating, and a raft of operational challenges. These included a significant overspend over several years, a substantial financial deficit, declining pupil numbers, and facilities deemed inappropriate for education. The decision to close permanently at the end of the academic year had already been communicated to parents, making the March 9 threat all the more fraught.
Elsewhere in Liverpool, the memory of a similar incident at West Derby School in January 2026 lingered. That school also closed for a day after receiving a “malicious communication,” which police later determined was likely a hoax. The recurring nature of such threats highlights the complex balance schools must strike between ensuring safety and minimizing unnecessary disruption.
As Merseyside Police continue their investigation, parents will be updated regarding the reopening of LIPA School and any other affected institutions—but only when it is deemed safe to do so. For now, the community is left grappling with the unsettling reality of modern-day hoaxes, the power of misinformation, and the ever-present need for vigilance in keeping children safe at school.