These were among the most serious incidents that Hunter and Central Coast principals reported to the Department of Education’s Incident Report and Support Hotline in the past year.

A Herald analysis of the department’s most recent figures, which span the first half of 2016, reveal 264 incidents across the region’s 10 principal networks related to violence, drug use, weapons, concern for welfare and the use of technology.

This is almost double the 142 incidents reported in the first half of 2015 and the highest number recorded in the first half of every year since at least 2005.

NSW P&C Federation president Susie Boyd said the organisation was “concerned” and the increase was “daunting to see”.

But a department spokesman said schools were “among the safest places in the community”.

“Every school day, teachers and more than 790,000 students work and learn safely at over 2200 public schools in NSW. Depending on the geographic definition, there are very approximately 80,000 government school students in the Hunter,” the spokesman said.

“Factors leading to the rise in reported incidents include a spike of bomb threats in term one and the ongoing promotion of the importance of incident reporting.”

Violence accounted for 102 of the incidents in the first half of 2016, followed by 48 incidents related to drugs, 43 that fell in the category of ‘other’, 34 related to welfare, 23 to technology and 14 to weapons.

At a Lake Macquarie West school, a male student tried to punch his teacher and then spat in their face, before leaving the classroom to break the office windows, spit at the school administration manager and continue to damage walls, windows and vehicles.

A female student at a Maitland school punched a girl multiple times to the head and face, causing extensive facial bruising and grazing to the shoulder and knee.

She accused her of talking about her on the bus.

At a Callaghan/Port Stephens school, a male student who threatened to stab another student was found carrying a knife and scissors underneath his clothing.

A male student at a Lake Macquarie West school who refused to follow the teacher’s instructions climbed up window frames, made rude gestures towards teachers and banged his head on the office glass door. He then began to kick the door, which was being knocked from its hinges.

He took a stick and sharpened it to a point and attempted to stab staff through the glass door.

At a Hunter school, a male student made an inappropriate finger gesture to a teacher who asked students to sit down, before starting to physically and verbally assault her, causing a jaw injury.

When he was escorted to the office he used a chair to threaten another staff member.

At a Lake Macquarie East school, a male student was taken to hospital after he said a number of unknown men forced him to ingest drugs while he was walking to school.

A male student at a Great Lakes school began verbally abusing a teacher who asked him to pick up rubbish, before throwing a bin that knocked her to the ground.

At a Newcastle school, a female student verbally abused a girl sitting in a corridor and attempted to push her off her chair. She pushed her way past intervening teachers and lunged at the girl, punching her several times.

At a Lake Macquarie West school, a male student barged past a teacher and into the staff room. He picked up a knife and returned to his classroom, where he threatened to stab his teacher. The knife was retrieved but he stabbed the teacher using a pen he was holding in his other hand.

But it wasn’t just students who were the main persons of interest.

A mother with a history of threatening behaviour towards staff members at a Maitland school posted defamatory posts about the school and staff on a social networking site.

At a Gosford school, a parent bore the brunt of a small explosion while lighting the school barbecue and suffered burns to the face and singed hair.

A head teacher at a Wyong school received numerous messages from another teacher on a social networking site threatening to kill him.

At a Great Lakes school, parents who believed a teacher had stolen their child’s pencils arrived at the property threatening to kill both the teacher and principal.

NSW P&C Federation president Susie Boyd said the organisation was “concerned” about the increase in incidents. “It’s daunting to see,” she said. “Something is going on. Children can always be safer, even those who live in a bubble ball.

“We are concerned, but we’re more concerned about what’s going to happen between January 2017 and June 2017, because of the work we’ve done in the past six months.”

Ms Boyd said the federation ran “think tank” sessions last year with 100 parents whose children had – or who had themselves personally – been involved in incidents at their school.

“For a lot of them it was frustration – they did not know how to deal with certain things so they were acting out,” she said. 

“It boils down to their feelings of engagement with their school.

“Both sides need to understand what the other has to deal with: students, for example, may be the primary carer for their parent or grandparent.”

Ms Boyd said the federation had also been working with the department and Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli’s office to “develop targeted programs and resources to assist schools to enhance students wellbeing and safety”.

“We will continue to watch this space to see if they’re working –  if not there has to be a change,” Ms Boyd said. “You can’t just make up strategies and hope for the best.”

The department spokesperson said violence and anti-social behaviour was not tolerated at school.

“Any student involved in violence, bringing a weapon or illegal drugs to school, or who engages in criminal behaviour at school is subject to the department's discipline policy and their parents or carer will be notified,” he said.

“The department has a range of initiatives to support schools, including the provision of specialist advice, early intervention, management advice and additional welfare support where required.

“The department supports schools in working with parents and relevant authorities in investigating and supporting students impacted by reported incidents. Counselling services are available for staff and students impacted.”

The spokesman said students learn about respectful relationships, bullying, drug use and the effect of violence on relationships and the community through Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, which is mandatory to year 10.