Teachers had to call the police after two schoolgirls barricaded themselves inside a classroom.

One girl was arrested for breach of the peace after becoming aggressive when officers approached her.

The drama unfolded at Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove when the two pupils, aged 14 or 15, used desks and chairs to barricade themselves into a classroom.

Teachers were unable to talk their way in and were eventually forced to call police as the situation threatened to spiral out of control.

The girls let the officers in, but one became “upset and aggressive” and was arrested and taken into custody.

Yesterday the school’s head teacher, Malvina Sanders, refused to comment when approached by The Argus.

But one parent, who did not want to be named, said: “There were all sorts of rumours flying around about the incident.

“The school’s communication with parents is simply not good enough.

“We should be told when the police are called into school.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police can confirm that a female student was arrested for breach of the peace at the Cardinal Newman School following an incident on November 12.

“Officers were called to the school at 10.45am after it was reported that two female students had barricaded themselves into a classroom.

“Police immediately attended, gained entry to the classroom and spoke to the pupils.

“One of the students became upset and aggressive and was subsequently taken into custody to prevent a breach of the peace.”

Cardinal Newman School, in The Upper Drive, Hove, caters for about 2,000 pupils between 11 and 18.

An Ofsted report on the school in November last year said: “Cardinal Newman is an outstanding school in which all students are valued and included.”

A spokesman for the Brighton and Hove City Council declined to comment.