The education department's latest report, covering term 3 last year, lists 44 incidents in the west, up from 36 the term before.

In Dubbo schools they involved threats of violence, sharp weapons, punches and broken noses.

The state as a whole recorded its worst figures since 2005, with 589 incidents, up 52 per cent on terms 1 and 2.

"Our schools are among the safest places in our community for children and young people," the department's report said.

"The vast majority of schools, more than 83 per cent, did not need to report a single incident in term 3, 2013."

A male student at a Dubbo school verbally abused his teacher and principal on August 20 last year, before breaking a metal strip off his classroom door, one incident document stated. 

The student then produced a knife and began running it along the front fence, sending the school into lockdown. 

On August 28 a male student at a Dubbo school took a fork from his bag and stabbed another student in the back, before a teacher removed the weapon.

The next month a male Dubbo student punched two other children, trashed a classroom and broke windows.

He climbed onto a school roof in an attempt to intimidate his first victim further.

Police were called and the school went into lockdown.

Comment on the NSW increase is being sought from education minister Adrian Piccoli.