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Perth 10-year-old rapist will not return to school

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A child rapist will not return to school after a public outcry from parents who were not told the offender was at the same school as their children.

The 10-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to sexually penetrating a child and threatening to kill following an incident where he raped an eight-year-old boy in a local park at knifepoint in December.

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Outcry as 10yo boy who raped an 8yo boy allowed at school

Parents have begun pulling their children out of a Perth primary school after discovering an 10-year-old male student raped an eight-year-old boy at knife-point at a local park. Audio: 6PR.

The boy's sentencing was delayed on Tuesday after a magistrate expressed concerns he may not have the capacity to understand the legal process.

Around 50 parents who had planned to pull their children out of the school if the child returned held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon following the court delay.

The group's spokesman confirmed the boy would not be returning to the school, despite being out on bail.

"The child will not be coming back to this school at all... obviously it moves the issue now to the community, and whether or not the child will remain in the community... we don't know," the spokesman said.

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"When it comes to someone at such a young age, everybody in the government, police etc, just really don't know how to handle it.

"Just try to get the rules and law balanced a bit more, balanced a bit more to the victims, to the innocent and the community rather than the perpetrator."

The 10-year-old boy had been attending school as a requirement of his bail conditions, WAtoday understands.

The school said it was bound by privacy laws and unable to tell parents about the child's offences, but had two staff supervising him at all times.

Some parents, however, disputed that he was always supervised after learning of his offences via social media at the weekend.

A mother who has a child in the same year as the boy, said his family were well-known in the community.

"My son, they were in the same class last year and used to play together. He used to go to the park with him, never again," she said. 

The mother said she had planned to remove her son from the school until the boy's sentencing, if he returned.

"Nobody deserves a second chance when they do something like that, but given his age, he just needs a lot of help and understanding," she said.

"Love is the main thing that this kid needs because he's obviously not getting it at home, it's very sad."

The Department of Child Protection has confirmed to the Department of Education the boy will not return to school but told WAtoday the boy is not in its care. 

"The Department is involved in this case and is providing appropriate supports to the family and is working closely with all agencies involved," DCP director general Emma White said. 

"The Department will remain involved for as long as required."

It is not clear how the boy will be managed within the community.

Earlier the Department of Education stressed the student was constantly supervised by two staff members while at school.

"The court sets bail conditions and, in this case, has not restricted the child from attending school," it said.

"It is an offence for anyone, including a school, to publish information which could lead to the identification of a child involved in court proceedings.

"WA's School Education Act guarantees the right of every child to an education, irrespective of a range of factors, which may include criminal charges.

"The school is doing everything reasonably possible to ensure the safety of all students."