Police from Darling River Local Area Command have been told the principal and a student were standing near the front gate of the school about 1.30pm on Tuesday, when the student allegedly became aggressive.

Police will allege the student armed himself with a wooden garden stake and struck the man several times, before staff intervened to protect him.

The principal sustained cuts and bruises to his forearms and back.

Police arrested the teen a short time later and took him to Bourke Police Station.

He has been charged with assault school staff member assault occasion actual bodily harm, and use offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He was refused bail and will appear in a children’s court on Wednesday, March 15.