POLICE are investigating an allegation of assault after a schoolgirl was pushed to the floor during an altercation with a fellow pupil.

Officers were called to Parkfield School in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth after a planned mediation session went wrong.

An investigation is under way but so far no arrests have been made.

Parkfield Principal Terry Conaghan confirmed the incident took place on Wednesday November 25.

He told the Daily Echo: "A small group of girls have had a difficult relationship with each other recently, much of which manifests itself outside of school in the evening and at weekends.

"The school arranged for the girls to meet for a mediation session. Unfortunately there was a relatively minor altercation between two of the girls and one was pushed to the floor.

"The incident lasted for approximately 10 seconds and senior staff were on hand to manage the situation. Ordinarily the school would not have called the police for such an incident, however a parent of one of the girls did so."

Mr Conaghan stressed the incident "had long been diffused" by the time police arrived and added: "The police did take statements but as yet we have not been informed of the outcome of their investigation. As such, we are unable to comment further as it is still in the hands of the police."

A police spokesman said: "Dorset Police received reports of an allegation of assault involving pupils at Parkfield School in Christchurch Road in Bournemouth. An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made."

Parkfield, which opened in September 2013, is Bournemouth's first free school, meaning it operates outside of local authority control.

Students are currently taught in a former office block, Dorset House, in Bournemouth town centre but the school is set to move to a new site near Bournemouth Airport in September next year.