A Perth mum has hit out at state education services after her 13-year-old daughter was viciously attacked by a group of her classmates outside a Perth high school last week.
Darling Ranges Sports College student Lara was walking home from school on Thursday afternoon when she was set upon by another student.
Lara was brutally bashed and knocked to the ground, before a group of girls surrounded her and repeatedly punched her in the head as she tried to break free from her attackers.
The vicious attack was filmed by bystanders and posted to social media, where hundreds of people viewed before it was reported to Facebook and removed.
Lara's mum Selina told Radio 6PR's Morning Show her daughter had not returned to school since the attack and was having trouble sleeping.
"Since it happened, she's barely slept at all," she said.
"She's had headaches since it happened, which is a worry... she was trying to put on a front that she was fine, but you can clearly see she's not fine.
"She's trying to move on with it and move past it - but it's not something that you can just go: 'I was severely punched in the head several times but I'm okay now, let's get on with it!'
"It's not easy."
Selina reported the incident to local police and Darling Ranges Sport College, which has since suspended Lara's attackers and those who filmed and posted the incident.
WA Police confirmed they had investigated the matter.
"The three juvenile females have been interviewed by police with responsible adults," a spokesperson said.
"One was issued with a juvenile caution for common assault and two were referred to the Juvenile Justice Team for a common assault offence."
While Selina said the school administration and police response had been empathetic and helpful, she believed a suspension was not enough to deter her daughter's attackers.
"The principal and the deputy principal have been very sincere and obviously have their hands tied," she said.
"They can only do what the Education Department tell them to do, and unfortunately that is that they get suspended and then they go back on their merry way.
"The next second later they're back at school again and they're doing the same thing."
Selina said her daughter had been a frequent target for bullies due to her studious nature, and said she was upset Lara had been forced to stop attending school due to fear of her attackers.
"They're not taking this seriously enough, they're not taking responsibility and saying we're under-staffed and under-resourced, and we need to do something about the bullying," she said.
The Department of Education said it was difficult for staff to monitor and manage student behaviour when they were not on school grounds.
"This incident occurred after school hours and away from the school site," a spokesperson said.
"The vast majority of students at the school are well behaved and do the right thing. The school has a range of processes and practices in place to support students to manage their behaviour.
"Parents are encouraged to reinforce positive behaviour messages at home."
Selina said the department's response was "a disgrace".
"I definitely do not feel supported whatsoever, and there is no empathy whatsoever from the Education Department," she said.
"They only had to take a good look at that video; how can you possibly tell me that the vast majority of students in that school are well behaved?
"It's not going to stop overnight, and I'm not saying it's not going to take a lot of work.
"But put the work in to stop this from happening in the first place."