A female teacher has been stabbed at a Townsville primary school by an 11-year-old female student, Queensland police say.

Key points: An 11-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after being tasered by police

An 11-year-old girl has been taken to hospital after being tasered by police Police say the teacher has non-life-threatening injuries

Police say the teacher has non-life-threatening injuries The incident happened in the vicinity of a classroom

Officers and paramedics were called to Heatley State School about 11:30am.

The 56-year-old teacher has been taken to Townsville hospital with a puncture wound to her shoulder and is in stable condition.

The 11-year-old girl has been detained and also taken to hospital.

Senior Sergeant Scot Warrick said the 11-year-old girl was armed with a knife and was tasered by police.

"What I can confirm [is] there was a disturbance within the school grounds involving a female teacher and a female student," he said.

"As a result of that disturbance, a 11-year-old student at the school who was armed with a knife was taken into custody by police and a taser was deployed during that incident.

"During that incident a female teacher has suffered a small puncture stab wound to her shoulder.

"I can advise and confirm that those injuries are not life-threatening."

Senior Sergeant Warrick said the knife had been described to him as "a small paring knife".

Police said they had "no idea" what led to the altercation.

Senior Sergeant Warrick said it was unknown how many people had witnessed the incident.

"There was a class in the vicinity of the incident … potentially quite a few people may be involved," he said.

"It has happened on the school grounds in the vicinity of a classroom."

He said the girl was subdued by officers and received immediate medical treatment.

"The student was brought under control in a safe manner as quickly as possible, immediate first aid was provided," he said.

Senior Sergeant Warrick said he arrived at the scene not long after the incident happened.

"We had QAS [Queensland Ambulance Service] here immediately and she [the student] has been assessed and she's in [a] good condition."

School put into lockdown

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said in a statement it was "aware of an incident at Heatley State School in which a teacher was injured".

"The school initiated a lockdown procedure and contacted the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service immediately," the spokesperson said.

"Any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of students or others in the school community is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of priority.

"Violence in any form is not tolerated in Queensland state schools."

Senior Sergeant Warrick said parents had no reason to be concerned about the ongoing welfare or safety of their children.

"I would just like to make it very clear that this incident was an internal incident to the school grounds — at no time was there any threat from outside the school," he said.

"And at no time other than at the time of the incident were any other students placed in any risk."

The school lockdown has since been lifted, and parents have been able to pick up their children. ( ABC News: Chloe Chomicki )

'Pretty scary what happened'

Cohen Warner has a child at the school and said he found out about the incident on Facebook.

"It's pretty scary what happened — this is a pretty good school for this to happen to — can't believe it," Mr Warner said.

He said his son, like many of the other students, was likely scared and shaken by the incident.

"Everyone's going in right now … signing [their children] out — I guess everyone's feeling pretty afraid for their sons' and daughters' lives," Mr Warner said.

Parent Cohen Warner said he found out about the incident on Facebook. ( ABC News )

Parent Michael Ryan said he also first learned about the incident on Facebook.

"[I was] a little bit shocked. I was just hoping it wasn't my daughter," Mr Ryan said.

"I am surprised … Heatley primary is a pretty good school.

"My other two children have been through the school — [years] one to seven. There's been no incidents."

Parent Michael Ryan said he was "a little bit shocked" about the incident. ( ABC News )

Another parent, Mick Chillemi, said he had not known about the incident until after 3:00pm.

"I was just sitting there having a cup of tea and I was looking at the news and … Heatley school came up and I heard what happened," he said.

"I thought 'wow, that's it — I'm coming straight down to get my daughter'.

"I've got great faith in the staff here and all the teachers here."