Dellwood Middle School has suspended a 12-year-old student for brutally beating another pupil.

The Royal Gazette has learned that the victim, who is also 12, required treatment for minor injuries at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as a result of the attack on Monday.

While the student's mother and Dellwood principal Carol Bassett declined to comment on the issue, which is under Police investigation, The Royal Gazette understands the incident began around 3 p.m. on Monday during a social studies class.

The victim allegedly told another student who was making "a lot of noise'' to be quiet.

Shortly after the class ended, the victim began to walk to his Spanish class when another classmate shouted to him that the boy would beat him up.

Moments later, the victim was approached by the boy who had been making noise in the previous class.

Sources said while the two faced each other in silence, someone pushed the victim into the boy. As a result, the boy hit him and a fight ensued.

While they were fighting, the boy pushed the complainant and he fell over someone's foot and to the floor.

While the victim was on the floor, it was alleged that the other boy -- who was wearing "black, hard shoes'' -- proceeded to kick him several times in his face and upper body area. The fight was stopped by onlooking students.

The victim later reported to the deputy principal's office on advice from a friend.

The Royal Gazette also understands that the boy was kept in the office where he held ice on his face until close to 5 p.m. when his mother arrived.

A witness statement was taken from him at the hospital.

And the matter is believe to be under investigation by Police' Community and Juvenile Services.

When contacted yesterday Mrs. Bassett said: "It's a Police matter so the only thing I can say is it did not occur in class, it occurred near the school.

"...The student who committed the offence has been suspended for initially five days.'' Under the public education system's Code of Conduct, released last June, students who commit an act of violence must be suspended.

But they cannot be suspended for more than five days for a first-time incident unless the Chief Education Officer gives permission. And this can only be for up to ten days.

If the student commits another violent act, he or she will be suspended for another five days and can be suspended for up to 40 days.