Sisters arrested over schoolyard attack

Two sisters have been arrested over an attack on a Hamilton schoolgirl and other students are likely to be suspended for chasing her boyfriend around the school grounds with sticks.

The sisters, aged 13 and 14, allegedly started a fight with a Year 13 student at Fairfield College on Wednesday.

Other students got involved and chased the 17-year-old girl's boyfriend with sticks as he came to her aid.

The older sister has appeared in court in Hamilton and the younger one has been referred to Youth Aid.

Fairfield College principal Julie Small would not answer reporters' questions yesterday but the school's commissioner, Dennis Finn, said the 17-year-old suffered scratches to her neck and severe bruising to her face after the "unprovoked and vicious attack".

"She asked to be excused so she could get out of the doorway in the common room and this younger student smashed her in the face ... Her sister then hit her from the other side," Mr Finn said.

"There was no warning at all. These students have no previous history of fighting with each other ... It's just an unacceptable situation."

The girl's boyfriend, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Finn, said he went to help her but was immediately set upon by a group of boys practising taiaha nearby.

"I jumped in and tried to stop it, then a whole bunch of other people came out with wooden sticks and stuff and they tried to chase me," said Finn.

"They didn't hit me with them but I got punched a few times and I just ran and my girlfriend got to safety too."

The 17-year-old said he and his girlfriend ran to the staffroom as the school contacted police and staff tried to calm the attackers.

The pair are away from school as Fairfield College decides the fate of their attackers.

"She [Finn's girlfriend] is pretty shaken. I'm not intimidated, not really, but I think they should be kicked out or at least suspended ... She shouldn't have to see these people again."

Sergeant Jim Cassin of the North Hamilton community policing centre said the group of students involved adopted a "mob mentality" and up to 30 students joined in.

"I suppose when you get a group of kids together they just don't think straight."

Mr Cassin said it was worrying that younger people were increasingly getting involved in assaults. Further arrests were unlikely but police would maintain a presence at the school.

Mr Finn, who was sent to the school by the Ministry of Education in February after the board of trustees resigned, said several suspensions were likely.