ACT principal stood aside over cage

A Canberra school principal has been stood aside for commissioning construction of a steel "calm down" cage to house a troublesome autistic child.

ACT education minister Joy Burch said she was very disappointed by what an independent inquiry into the incident had turned up.

The inquiry found the two-metre cube cost $5195, was paid for from school funds, was in place for 14 days in March this year and was used only once.

Neither the school, the principal nor the child were identified.

Ms Burch said it was completely unacceptable that a decision was taken to build such a structure as a response to the student's behaviour.

"This decision was wrong and the officer responsible will no longer be a school principal or be working within a school," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

"School principals must be held responsible for their actions."

The inquiry was launched following a complaint the cage had been constructed in a classroom to accommodate an autistic child.

It found the decision to erect the structure was solely that of one individual and made without input, consultation or approval from inside the school or the ACT Education and Training Directorate.

The cage, made of blue powder-coated metal and featuring a self-closing door and latch, was constructed by an external builder on March 10 and dismantled on March 24.

It was intended as a calm-down and quiet space for the student. Staff placed the student in the cage on just one occasion.

The inquiry report said expert support, advice and assistance in case management were available to school principals.

The specialised behaviour support team routinely provided support to the school but was not involved in the decision to make the structure.

The inquiry concluded that officers within the directorate failed to act with sufficient urgency or alarm when alerted to the structure.

Ms Burch said that had been extremely frustrating.

"The length of time this has taken did not meet community expectations or my expectations as minister," she said.