Quick-thinking staff are being praised after a knife was pulled during an altercation at a Hamilton school this morning.

Parents of King's College students have devised a plan to allow alcohol at their children's after-ball party - but the school says it is keeping right out of the matter.

A Gisborne school community is reeling from the tragic loss of a student, after an 11-year-old died in a freak accident on Wednesday night.

An events firm embroiled in police crackdowns on after-balls says it doesn't supply alcohol to minors - it just works with parents committees.

Thousands of young people have gone online to mock and protest the police's crackdown on high school after-ball parties.

At least four after-ball parties have been axed as organisers run for cover after a police crackdown and concerns over teen drunkenness.

The parents of a King's College student who died in his sleep in February have left a heartfelt message to the mother of another boy who died this week.

Students from top Auckland school King's College are in a "state of disbelief" after the death of a third student since February.

Turnover rates at some schools are sitting at around 56 per cent - more than half of the children who start the year don't finish there.

Parents of students at a top Catholic girls' school are organising an after-ball party with alcohol - despite police warnings.

Manukau's liquor licensing agency is drawing up a list of school ball dates, and will send inspectors to follow buses to after-ball parties.

A party consultant is telling high school students how they can get away with taking booze to after-ball parties.