JANET JONES: ‘‘This child is way different from any child we’ve had come through the school and we’ve had some tough ones.’’

The Ministry of Education has backed down on its decision to force a Waikato school to re-enrol a violent young boy.

Ministry special education group manager Brian Coffey said that ordering the school to accept the boy was "the last approach we'd ever want to take".

"Our intention is not to force the school, but we're really keen to come to a resolution on this."

Coffey and other ministry staff have called an urgent meeting at Paeroa Central School tomorrow to listen to the concerns of all involved.

Parents have threatened to remove their children from the school if the 11-year-old boy with a violent history is allowed to return.

The Ministry had directed the school to re-enrol the boy, despite warnings from police and a mental-health expert that he poses a major threat to the safety of others.

But the school is refusing to take him back, fearing his return will put staff and pupils in danger.

The boy - whom the Waikato Times has chosen not to name - was excluded from the decile one school in August after he assaulted a teacher, and told pupils aged 5 and 6 that he would "cut them up" with a knife.

Principal Janet Jones said parents will take their children out of school if the boy returns as he would likely harm someone again.

"I think parents will remove their children and I already have two board members saying they will take their children out, so we stand to lose a teacher.

"I feel like we're just trapped in a really difficult position because it has implications in terms of employing staff, it has implications for the school roll and it has implications for the safety of children and staff."

Jones has found support from a relative of the boy, anti-violence campaigner Paora Raharaha, who says the youngster should be placed in alternative education.

The boy has attended 14 schools, including one in Hamilton from which he was excluded after trying to assault staff with a cricket bat.

The boy - whose father is understood to be a senior Mongrel Mob member recently released from prison - has spent three months living rough on Paeroa streets after escaping from Child, Youth and Family care.

He was living with an aunt, who enrolled him at the school in August.

He lasted four days before being excluded. His offending includes threatening to stab pupils, punching, kicking and spitting at others, and assaulting a teacher.

The ministry asked the school to take the boy back, offering it about $34,000 in funding from the intensive wraparound service for severely troubled children.

"We declined," Jones said. But, at the start of this year, the ministry directed the board to lift the exclusion and enrol him in April.

The school appealed to Education Minister Hekia Parata, who refused to get involved.

An email on May 31 from ministry acting manager Rachel Fox said the board was "in breach of legal obligations" and its concerns were "not valid reasons" to deny him entry.

"I am just appalled and astounded really, because I feel like [the ministry's] not supporting us at all," Jones said.

"This child is way different from any child we've had come through the school and we've had some tough ones."

Coffey yesterday told the Times it was rare to direct a school to enrol a pupil but the risks to others and the needs of the boy were carefully considered.

"The student is receiving a range of support from specialists through the intensive wraparound service, which will support him at school, in the community and at home over the next two years.

"The best place to learn how to behave and learn at school is in a school."

However, Paeroa police youth aid officer Phil Mitchell sent a letter to the school on May 14, warning staff against the boy's return.

Mitchell said the boy "poses a major threat to the safety of others, given his propensity to use violence, his volatility, his lack of control, his lack of respect for authority and rules".

Jones also said a psychologist told her the boy "will be a danger at whatever school he is in".

The school is refusing to back down but, in doing so, could risk a commissioner being appointed and the board being sacked.

"The board was very concerned about what it would do to my career and I've reassured them that that's not important. What's important is keeping our children safe," Jones said.

"We're actually hoping that we can negotiate a solution with the ministry and the child gets to go to Thames Valley Alternative Education Centre."

The centre deals with children who have been excluded from secondary school. This option has been agreed to by all parties, except the ministry.

Raharaha said the people concerned had "tried and tried" to help the boy but mainstream education was not suitable "just right now".

"He's happy to go into an alternative school. He's not happy to go back into a school where he's been excluded," Raharaha said.

The boy had a hard upbringing but, given the right support, he would get his life on track, Raharaha believed.

"It's been a really, really tough life for the young man."