Toowoomba's Centenary Heights high school.

Toowoomba's Centenary Heights high school. Photo: Google Maps

A Queensland high school says it makes no apologies for suspending nearly 40 students who failed to intervene in a fight between two girls.

Thirty-nine students were suspended from Centenary Heights State High School in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after two female Year 9 students were caught fighting on October 15.

Education Queensland regional director Greg Dickman said the vast majority of the students were suspended for two days for having prior knowledge of the fight and watching it take place, while taking no action to stop it.

It is believed some students filmed the fight on mobile phones, but it is not clear whether the footage was eventually uploaded to social media.

‘‘I make no apology for principals taking a tough stance when the safety and wellbeing of students is compromised,’’ Mr Dickman said.

It is understood the two girls involved in the fight were both suspended for five days.

Mr Dickman said the majority of parents whose children had been suspended over the fight supported the school’s action.

‘‘At least 36 of the 39 parents have indicated they were disappointed in their children’s behaviour and all supported the school’s tough action,’’ he said.

‘‘Overall feedback from the school community has been supportive of a strong stance against inappropriate behaviour.’’

However, some parents were outraged their daughters were among the students suspended.

Michael Davis said his daughter had told him she thought schoolyard talk of a fight would amount to nothing.

‘‘Whilst I understand the need of the school to deter bullying behaviour, it is entirely inappropriate that the victim of a bullying incident and a witness to a bullying incident should be punished alongside the bully,’’ he told the Toowoomba Chronicle.

Megan Stone questioned the severity of the action taken against her daughter Cassidy.

Ms Stone told the Toowoomba Chronicle her daughter only became aware of the fight when she came across the scene as the fight was being broken up.

‘‘We like the discipline but I think [this case] is definitely lobbing everyone in the one basket,’’ Ms Stone said.

A grandfather of another suspended girl, who requested not to be named, said he was angry the dispute was not stopped before it turned violent.

‘‘For [the school] not to have any knowledge of it, that’s incredulous,’’ he said.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek threw his support behind the school's decision on Friday.

"I commend Principal Maryanne Walsh for her tough action and fully support her decision," Mr Langbroek said.

"It sends a strong message home to parents and the community that this kind of bad behaviour will not be tolerated."