Nine cases – involving assaults, drugs, threats and other incidents – were reported to the Department of Education (DEC) during the term by the region’s public schools.

Assault accounted for three cases, threats for three, drugs for another two, and a school evacuation due to a suspected gas leak was the final reportable incident, according to the latest DEC report.

In the assault cases, one student was allegedly sexually assaulted by another student on October 28 while truanting from school. The matter was reported to police.

A teacher witnessed one student inappropriately touch another at school on November 28 .

The third assault case occurred on October 21 when one student punched another in the head and the victim was knocked to the ground.

The school involved gave first-aid to the victim before he was transported to hospital.

“The relieving deputy principal suspects that the attack was planned and has contacted the victim’s parents,” the DEC report stated.

In the drug cases, two female students admitted to truanting and smoking drugs, while another female student had a prohibited drug in a plastic bag and then ate some of it.

The DEC’s report showed the number of incidents at Bathurst’s public schools varied across 2014 – 12 in term one, eight in term two, down to six in term three and then nine in term four.

A DEC spokesman said the reports illustrate that inappropriate behaviour is not tolerated in public schools.

“Students who behave unacceptably are disciplined according to the school’s code of behaviour and when the action may be unlawful it is reported to police,” he said.

“Public schools teach students about respectfully and appropriately relating to other students in age-appropriate lessons from kindergarten to Year 12.”

There were four reportable incidents during term four (up from three in term three) in Orange and three in Dubbo (down from four in term three).