Schools are finishing early with police lined up outside the gates amid a ‘School Wars’ TikTok trend encouraging armed brawls with rival pupils told to arm themselves with scissors.

Parents and carers across London were on Friday told to make sure their children head straight home at the end of the school day and avoid large groups of people with police braced for violent interactions.

Posters inspired by notorious LA street gangs the Bloods and the Crips featuring men in red and blue balaclavas and listing which schools fall under which ‘side’ have been circulating on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram all week. 

Hackney, Islington, Redbridge and Croydon are among the boroughs included in the ‘Red vs Blue’ fights, with 26 schools in total listed and split into teams, but parents from other parts of the capital have also reported similar posts. 

And as the school week came to a close, parents received letters from concerned officials telling them to watch their children and warning of an increased police presence. 

One email from Charter North Dulwich titled ‘Social Media Post – Red vs Blue’ said it aimed to ‘reassure’ recipients as the trend continues to build.

It added: ‘We may notice an increased police presence locally after school as a precaution.

‘Charter North Dulwich is not mentioned in the posts; however, to help keep everyone safe, please remind your child to go straight home at the end of the school day and avoid loitering or gathering in large groups. Southwark schools are in close contact.’

A TikTok post advertising the ‘School Wars’ TikTok trend. Schools are finishing early today with police lined up outside the gates

Students are asked to have someone ‘record’ their attacks and for the footage to be sent to the organiser so they can be posted online and given extra ‘points’

The email then thanked parents and pupils for raising the issue which has seen the Charter School included in social media posts pitting it in a ‘south London war’ for years eight to 11.

‘We will be speaking to all students to address this with them in the morning,’ it said.

‘Can you please speak with students to ensure that they should not participate in any activity, they should go straight home after school and ensure that they are with friends and family when going home.

‘We will be staggering the exit from school tomorrow slightly to ensure that individual year groups can move away quickly (this will be communicated tomorrow) and ensure that there is a significant visible staff present around after school.’

A separate note sent to parents by the Metropolitan Police regarding the TikTok trend’s impact on that part of the capital read: ‘We are aware that several posts have been circulating on social media in recent days, and we understand that this may have caused concern among families.’

The force added that it would be monitoring online activity, working with social media organisations to disable accounts encouraging violence, and would remain in contact with schools across ‘several boroughs’.

It continued: Police officers will continue to maintain a strong and visible presence around schools in some areas proactively to respond promptly and firmly to any reports of violence or disorder to help ensure the safety of all young people.

‘Commanders across East boroughs urge people of the serious consequences of becoming involved in situations of this nature. 

‘Any involvement in violence or carrying weapons can lead to arrest, criminal charges or even imprisonment, with long term impacts on future opportunities.

‘We ask that you speak with children about staying safe, making responsible choices, and reporting anything that concerns them to a trusted adult.’

With police on high alert, parents at a primary school in Wandsworth were warned of an increased police presence in the area, particularly at the popular Southside shopping centre and King George’s Park.

Many of the original posts have been deleted, so it is unclear exactly how many boroughs and schools have been called to fight at a number of gatherings this month.

Another post laying out the ‘rules’ of the school wars tells children to ‘jump’ anyone they see from the ‘opposite’ side, specifying they must ‘be violent’.

They are encouraged to use stationary from their pencil cases, such as compasses, scissors and rulers, as weapons with some posters even depicting kitchen knives and fireworks.

Students are also asked to have someone ‘record’ their attacks and for the footage to be sent to the original organiser so they can be posted online and given extra ‘points’.

The scoring system awards 20 points to children who punch an ‘opp’, 10 points for chasing them, 15 points for ‘staining’ them – slang for stabbing – and 10 bonus points for ‘recording any of the above’.

Since the posts began circulating online last week, parents have received emails about the worrying calls to battle from their children’s headteachers who reassured them they had informed the authorities and police would be patrolling the areas.

Other posts laying out the ‘rules’ of the school wars tells children to ‘jump’ anyone they see from the ‘opposite’ side, specifying they must ‘be violent’

They are encouraged to use stationary from their pencil cases, such as compasses, scissors and rulers, as weapons with some posters even depicting kitchen knives and fireworks

Since the posts began circulating online last week, parents have received emails about the worrying calls to battle from their children’s headteachers who reassured them they had informed the authorities and police would be patrolling the areas

Parents also took to Facebook to warn others about the posts on their local community groups.

Underneath one post about the Redbridge school wars, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting commented: ‘Council and Police aware.

‘I’ve also raised this at highest levels in government.

‘Hope parents are clear with their children that we’ll come down on this sort of behaviour like a ton of bricks.’

TikTok reportedly removed the posts on their platform for breaching their community guidelines after the Met alerted them, according to the Islington Tribune.

A meeting was held in Croydon last week regarding the school wars planned in the area with police, the council and the Safer Neighbourhoods Chair in attendance.

The dates for the Croydon fight gatherings are next Friday, February 27, followed by further meets on March 2, 4, 5 and 6.

A statement issued after the meeting said: ‘We want to reassure the community that headteachers across the borough and the council are fully aware of the situation.

‘The Met Police, alongside community partners, have reviewed all available information and agreed a co-ordinated response.’

This will include an increased police presence on February 27, the Legacy Youth Zone being open for children and teenagers, and community representatives ‘present in key locations’.

Local shopping centres the Whitgift and Centrale will also provide ‘designated safe spaces’.

There is nothing to suggest that the original posts were made by any child from any school that had been named.