Two youngsters convicted of assaulting a teacher will have to wait until next year to learn their fate.

The former Warwick Secondary students, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday appeared in Juvenile Court after a Supreme Court judge overturned their acquittal.

Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp -- who yesterday barred the media from the court -- had in August found the 15-and 13-year-olds not guilty of acting together unlawfully assaulting Victor Coggin and thereby doing him bodily harm on March 4.

But Puisne Judge Richard Ground this week ruled that Mrs. Mapp's ruling should be set aside on the grounds of a "wrong decision in law''.

And he sent the case back to Mrs. Mapp with an order that she convict the teens of common assault and sentence them.

Mrs. Mapp postponed sentencing yesterday pending social inquiry reports on both boys.

The boys were released on bail and ordered to return to court on January 28 for sentencing.

But before setting the date, Mrs. Mapp told lawyer Tyrone Chin -- who appeared in court for The Royal Gazette -- she did not want the Press present.

She said she was simply setting another court date and did not believe the media's presence was necessary.

Despite Mr. Chin's attempts to bring section 14 of the Young Offenders Act to the Magistrate's attention, Mrs. Mapp maintained her position.

The section allows the media to be present at juvenile court cases, provided the child concerned in the proceedings is not identified.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Jerome Dill made it clear yesterday that the older of the two teens will not be allowed to return to the public school system despite a planned alternative programme for students with behavioural problems.

School heads expelled the older boy and suspended the younger boy.

However, Mr. Dill told The Royal Gazette there were "several options'' for the 15-year-old to carry on his education.

"The 15-year-old is expelled and he has a right to appeal that expulsion but as things stand, he has been taken out of the school system,'' Mr. Dill said yesterday.

"We don't expel people lightly and this boy will have been through a number of steps to help him before it reached this stage.

"There are several options for him. But what happens now is a matter for him and his parents.

"We have introduced a programme called Best Steps at Bermuda College which he could apply for.

"That is aimed at upgrading students who for one reason or another haven't finished high school.

"Otherwise, he could sit his exams at the Adult Education Centre. But either way, he would have to abide by the rules of the institution.'' Mr. Dill said the youth would not be allowed back into CedarBridge or the planned alternative school at Warwick Camp for children with behavioural problems.

But he said the younger boy still had time to map out his own school future.

"He has not been expelled and this episode may have become a watershed in his life,'' he added. "He may have turned things around now. And if his behaviour is good, he will still be welcome in the school system.'' The March 4 incident provoked a storm of outrage among teachers across the Island and Government placed security guards in each high school.