The cage was in place for 14 days in March this year and used only once

Issue raised after complaint was made to ACT Human Rights Commission

A Canberra school principal has been sacked for building a steel 'calm down' cage to house an autistic child.

The 10-year-old boy was locked in the two-metre blue powder coated cube, which was fitted with a self-closing latch and built for $5,195 using the school's funds, an independent inquiry has found.

The cage was in place for 14 days in March this year and was used to cage the child only once.

Neither the school, the principal nor the child have been identified.

The blue cage was fitted with a self closing latch so it could be used as a 'calm down' space for a ten-year-old student with autism

ACT education minister Joy Burch said she was very disappointed by what an independent inquiry into the incident had turned up.

Ms Burch, who ordered an independent inquiry into the incident, said it was completely unacceptable that a decision was taken to build such a structure as a response to the student's behaviour.

['This decision was wrong and the officer responsible will no longer be a school principal or be working within a school,' she said in a statement.

'School principals must be held responsible for their actions.'

The inquiry found the decision to erect the structure was solely that of one individual and made without input, consultation or approval from inside the school or the ACT Education and Training Directorate.

The cage was specifically designed as a 'withdrawal space' for the 10-year-old autistic boy. ACT Education MInister Joy Burch (pictured) said it is a horrifying situation

The cage was constructed by an external builder on March 10 and dismantled on March 24.

It was intended as a calm-down and quiet space for the student. Staff placed the student in the cage on just one occasion.

The inquiry report said expert support, advice and assistance in case management were available to school principals.

The specialised behaviour support team routinely provided support to the school but was not involved in the decision to make the structure.

The inquiry concluded that officers within the directorate failed to act with sufficient urgency or alarm when alerted to the structure.

Ms Burch said that had been extremely frustrating.

'The length of time this has taken did not meet community expectations or my expectations as minister,' she said.

The Minister said an investigation into the incident is underway.'This structure could not be deemed acceptable in any way shape or form, in any of our public education schools, hence it was withdrawn,' she said

The principal has been removed from the school and two teachers with expertise in disability education have been assigned to the school.

Shadow Education Minister Kate Ellis said the mistreatment of students with a disability was 'shocking and deeply disturbing'.

'The abuse or neglect of students with disability is absolutely unacceptable,' Ms Ellis said.

'All students – including those with disability – deserve to be recognised as learners and supported to achieve their best,' she said.

'As a society, we have a responsibility to ensure our schools are safe and caring environments for all students, at all times.'

It was also revealed that the school only removed the cage when they were ordered to do so by the ACT Education Department after they received a complaint from the boy's parents.

ACT Education Directorate Director-General Diane Joseph (pictured) said the 'confronting' structure was 'entirely inappropriate and unacceptable'

The issue came to light after a complaint was made to the Children and Young People's Commissioner about the cage and the name of the school cannot be revealed due to privacy reasons.

ACT Education Directorate Director-General Diane Joseph said the 'confronting' structure was 'entirely inappropriate and unacceptable'.

'The space was basically a fenced-in structure inside a classroom,' Ms Joseph said.

'The structure was built for one particular student.

'The decision to erect such a structure raises so many questions. I have asked for the investigation to be treated with the upmost urgency.'

The horrific news comes as organisations and people come together to recognise World Autism Awareness Day.