Attack at school filmed and shared

A teenage girl has been suspended from a Taranaki school following a lunchtime assault that saw a student taken to hospital.

On Tuesday, a violent altercation occurred on the grounds of Stratford High School between two girls who were in school uniform at the time.

Part of the fight was filmed and has since been shared across social media. While it is unclear how it began, at the start of the video the girls can be seen pushing one another. One of the students then rained a number of punches on the other, who attempted to walk away.

But the teenager followed and pushed the 15-year-old to the ground before unleashing another torrent of punches.

People can be heard in the video cheering on the attacker, while others are screaming at her to stop.

It is understood the girl suffered a number of injuries in the assault. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the victim was treated at Taranaki Base Hospital’s Emergency Department on Tuesday and later discharged.

Principal Philip Keenan said the other student involved had been suspended.

‘‘The behaviour of the students is not what our school is about and we do not condone this behaviour,’’ he said in an emailed statement.

He said Stratford High was a ‘‘Positive Behaviour for Learning’’ school and staff were committed to nurturing tolerant and respectful teenagers. ‘‘But sadly, sometimes, in the heat of the moment, some students make poor decisions.’’

Keenan said when it was obvious that a student’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct the school had no option but to follow the Ministry of Education’s guidelines and either stand down or suspend the student.

‘‘We do not condone this behaviour.’’ Principal Philip Keenan