Western Australia associate principal reinstated after tackling 14-year-old boy

A West Australian associate principal filmed pinning down a 14-year-old student while breaking up a brawl has been reinstated.

Eaton Community College associate principal Grant Walton was suspended following the March incident but Education Department Director General Lisa Rodgers yesterday said he could return and receive extra training.

"As I mentioned earlier in the week, the community has really gotten behind Mr Walton - and indeed the wider teaching profession - and I look forward to seeing him back at work," she said in a statement.

Mr Walton was captured on mobile phone footage tackling a student, flinging him to the ground and pinning him down.

Other students are heard shouting and swearing as the scuffle breaks out.

Thousands of people signed a petition calling for Mr Walton to be reinstated.

He had been with the school for 15 years.

Mr Walton said he was “extremely relieved” at the news.

He refused to talk about what happened, saying it was a “complicated event”.

He said he “was there to intervene and stop a fight and protect students,” and said he didn’t believe he used unnecessary force.

“Intervening is a last resort,” he said.

“Sometimes you’re placed in a situation where you have to use your best judgement and the training that you’ve had and the experience you’ve had and make decisions in a very quick time.”

A planned protest today against his stepping down will become a celebration.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he sympathised with the teacher.

"I don't want any teaching staff or education staff to be hung out to dry. That's why we've put in place a whole range of new measures," he said.

Eaton Community College is 145 kilometres south of Perth.