The incident occurred on March 1 at Gold Creek School during school hours in full view of other students and teachers.

Footage viewed by The Canberra Times shows three male students repeatedly punching and kicking a student on the ground.

Another student broke up the fight before two female teachers intervened.

An ACT Policing spokesman said the investigation into the incident was active and ongoing, and so it would be inappropriate to give further comment.

It is unclear if any charges will be laid.

An Education Directorate spokesman declined to answer questions regarding the incident as it was being investigated by police.

It happened in the same month as another serious assault in the principal's office at Calwell High School which left a teacher with broken teeth, a dislocated shoulder, welts and bruising.

It comes as the ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said several times during question time that serious incidents of physical assault were rare in public schools.

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One retired principal who worked across ACT government and non-government schools for more than 40 years told The Canberra Times that they didn't know a principal in the public system who had not been assaulted at some point.

During their career, they had knives brandished at them, had a student bring a gun to school, received death threats and had their car damaged four times.

Some of the violence came from parents and other community members as well as students.

"This goes on at every school, Catholic, independent, public," the former principal said.

"Private schools don't have to report like government schools do."

In relation to Calwell High School, where WorkSafe ACT issued a prohibition notice due to an imminent risk to safety, the former principal said the school would have followed the reporting protocols but was not getting proper support. Some students in the region grapple with complex issues such as family violence, alcohol abuse, drug-taking and homelessness, they said.

"The Tuggeranong Valley schools have always been neglected in terms of funding and resources."

The Education Directorate have directed more resources to Calwell High School since the intervention of WorkSafe ACT, including executives from the directorate to support the leadership, counsellors and school psychologists.

Do you know more? Contact sarah.lansdown@canberratimes.com.au

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