Keysborough Secondary College: Man charged after principal Aaron Sykes stabbed in alleged schoolyard attack

A man has been charged over a terrifying alleged schoolyard attack on a Melbourne principal on Tuesday.

Aaron Sykes, 43, was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed during a confrontation with another man, believed to be a teacher, just after 3pm.

The school was placed in lockdown, and children were urged to take shelter under their desks as police arrived on the scene nine minutes after a triple-0 call was made, arresting the other man.

He was taken to the hospital with a minor injury and was under police guard.

Mr Sykes’ injuries were non-life-threatening, and he has since been released from the hospital.

In a joint letter to the school community, Acacia campus principal Natalie Fode and Banksia Campus principal Richard Hastings said Mr Sykes was “recovering well and in good spirits” after the distressing incident.

“No students were involved in the incident in any way,” the letter read.

“The alleged perpetrator is with police and will not at any stage be back on school grounds.”

“As this is currently a police matter, we cannot comment further.

“Any form of violence within our school is entirely unacceptable. We are proud of the safe and supportive culture that is the norm at our school.

“We want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.”

Mr Sykes had been principal at the college for just under one year, having taken over at the start of 2025.

On Wednesday, Victoria Police revealed a 37-year-old Mulgrave man had been charged with multiple offences, including recklessly engaging in conduct placing a person in danger of serious injury, intentionally causing injury, unlawful assault and assault with a weapon.

The man is due to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.