Two year 9 boys at a Wollongong high school allegedly tried to sell white pills and bags of white powder to younger students in the school toilets during third term last year.
The incident, which took place between classes last July, is one of four drug-related cases reported by Illawarra and South-East Region schools during the 10-week term.
NSW Education Department files from term 3, released this week, revealed 31 serious incidents in the region's schools.
In addition to taking and selling drugs, students were reported for lighting fires in the school playground, shooting objects at teachers using a slingshot, throwing chairs through windows and burning other students with a cigarette lighter.
In almost a third of reported incidents, teachers, principals or support staff were victims of threats, verbal abuse or violence from students or parents.
School staff were reported for injuring pupils on two occasions.
In August, an administration staff member at a school in the Lake Illawarra police command was accused of pushing a year 10 girl against a wall twice while intervening in a fight between students.
The staff member had allegedly driven a vehicle over the foot of the girl's brother, a year 8 boy, on an earlier occasion.
In September, a male teacher pulled a year 8 boy's hat off his head and whipped the hat across the student's face after the child decided to frighten the teacher by jumping out at him.
Social media and mobile phones continued to cause problems, with "inappropriate photos" of students being shared online at two schools during the term.
Six reports over the period involved indecent exposure or sexual harassment and there was one recorded self-harm attempt.
Despite the disturbing nature of incidents reported in Illawarra schools, the region is ranked sixth out of 10 NSW school districts based on the number of incidents recorded.
Western Sydney schools recorded 56 incidents in term 3 last year, the Hunter and Central Coast recorded 47 and South-Western Sydney recorded 44.
More than 300 incidents were recorded statewide.
An Education Department statement accompanying the incident reports maintains schools are "among the safest places in our community for children and young people".
It says more than 90 per cent of NSW schools did not report a single incident during the term, while 7 per cent reported only one incident.
The department's Illawarra and South-East Region includes schools covered by the Far South Coast and Goulburn police commands.
Case study 1
A year 8 girl threatened to ‘‘drive a piece of wood’’ into the face of a year 9 girl while in a woodworking class last September.
After being sent to the principal, the girl repeatedly said she was going to kill the other student. She took a metal baseball bat from a nearby room and then went back towards her classroom.
The deputy and principal followed the girl, causing her to throw the bat aside and verbally abuse and push the teachers. She was eventually restrained and police were contacted.
Case study 2
A year 3 girl at a Wollongong area primary school assaulted another student, before going to the school garden area and ripping out plants to throw at staff. A year 6 boy joined in, abusing and pushing teachers and other students. He then punched and spat on the assistant principal.
The girl and a third student encouraged the older boy while throwing objects at the assistant principal.
The school was put into lockdown and police were called, but two of the students climbed over a fence and left the school.
Case study 3
A year 9 boy at a high school in the Lake Illawarra police command was seen smoking in the playground.
He swore and threatened to assault the deputy principal when approached, and swung his fist at the teacher.
He was escorted from the school. A short time later the boy’s father came to the school and threatened to physically assault the teacher.
The principal then saw the boy’s 17-year-old brother walking towards the school with a bat.
The father and older brother were denied access to the school and were eventually convinced to leave the area without further incident.