Parent questions WA Department of Education's response after alleged knife incident at Goldfields school

The mother of a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly threatened with a knife at a Western Australian school says the Department of Education has failed to support traumatized students.

WA Police responded to an incident at a Goldfields school between a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old on Tuesday and are investigating reports the 12-year-old was armed with a knife.

A police spokesperson said a knife was seized at the school and the student accused of wielding it was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

ABC spoke to the 14-year-old girl's parent, who said her son was struggling following the incident.

“My son is pretty traumatized by this whole event,” the parent said.

“He's not doing well at the moment.”

She believed the school was then locked down, while police and an ambulance were called.

But she said it took an hour and a half for the school to call her and tell her what happened.

She said the school has yet to notify other parents or offer support to her son or students who witnessed the ordeal.

'Lack of transparency'

The parent said her son was later suspended for 10 days following the incident.

She said she was told the Department of Education's policy was that “any student” involved in a serious incident would be suspended.

“I think it’s completely unacceptable,” she said.

“I went to talk to the principal the next afternoon and asked her why she had suspended him.

“What information did she use to do this, what policies and procedures were used for this suspension?

The mother said her biggest concern was the lack of transparency from the school.

“No other parents were informed that there was a lockdown, that there was a weapon in the school or that the police and ambulance were involved,” she said.

“And none of the children received any support, including my child.

“They refuse to give me any information about the incident or anything that has happened since.”

She said her son gave a victim impact statement to police on Saturday.

A WA Police spokesperson said the investigation was continuing.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.