Security on a school campus is to be stepped up after a pupil was attacked by a by a group of youths.

A woman was also chased by the group after she tried to intervene in the beating and call Police.

A 15-year-old Saltus student, who lives in Sandys, was attacked by another young man, who does not attend the school, at approximately 1.20 p.m. on Wednesday.

A 36-year-old Pembroke woman was leaving the swimming pool on the school property when she saw the incident and stopped to help.

A Police spokesman said: "She shouted out to the assailant to stop, but he continued to punch the student until he fell to the ground. The suspect then kicked the victim about his head and body before walking away from the premises with three other young men."

The woman started to follow the group and called 911 to report the matter. Police said the young men noticed what the woman was doing and began to chase her, causing her to trip and fall as she tried to get away from them.

As she ran from the group, she dropped her bag and the young man who attacked the student stopped and rifled through it, taking her Blackberry and a pink purse containing $80. When he heard the Police sirens, he fled the scene, however.

A suspect in the attack, a St. George's teenager, was later arrested at Dellwood Middle School.

The teen who was attacked sustained facial cuts and abrasions while the Pembroke woman was advised to seek medical attention after suffering abrasions to her knee and hip as she escaped from the four men.

Saltus principal Nigel Kermode posted a letter to parents on the school website Wednesday evening addressing the issue.

He wrote: "I am writing to advise you that four individuals from outside the school entered our property; one of them assaulted one of our students.

The intruder gained access through the Canal Road gate which was open at the time.

"Individuals who were using the B.A.S.A. pool sought to intervene and were themselves subjected to abuse and threatening behaviour."

The incident happened at the beginning of the school lunch hour and the two staffers assigned to field duty were on the steps leading the field when it happened, Mr. Kermode said.

Within a short period, an additional six senior staff members were on the field trying to establish what happened and dealing with the students.

One teacher ensured that the student who was attacked was treated for injuries before being taken to the hospital.

Mr. Kermode wrote: "It is regrettable that the Canal Road gate was unlocked today and I will ask our Facilities Manager to ensure that the gate is secured during the course of the school's working day and that it is opened only for student entrance and exit at the beginning and the end of the day.

"This is a very disturbing occurrence. I wish to thank the staff members concerned for their handling of the situation and for their prompt response."

The student who was attacked was treated and released from hospital.