A teenager excluded from a Mearns secondary school for threatening to stab one of his teachers could be back in the classroom within weeks.
The 13-year-old was barred from the school after being caught with a knife and later charged by police for acting in a threatening and abusive manner.
But it is understood talks are being held aimed at paving the way for the youth to return to lessons at the school.
It is believed the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons visited the school last week for talks with staff. He could be back at the school by January as part of a phased return but it is understood staff are not happy.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman could not confirm if the teenager would return next year but said: “We continue to be in discussions with all related parties regarding this matter.”
He said the council has a responsibility to deliver education in some form.
The incident happened at the end of August.
Larry Flanagan, the general secretary of teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said: “While the majority of incidents of indiscipline that occur in our schools are low-level in nature, there are occasions when more serious incidents involving, violence, threat of violence or intimidation can occur. Although these incidents are rare, the EIS is very clear that a zero-tolerance approach should be taken to such events, including police involvement where violence has been used or threatened.
“Pupils can display disruptive and aggressive behaviour for a wide range of reasons and it is important we take steps to understand the variable causes of that behaviour.
“Local authorities have a duty of care to all their employees and it is important they take the necessary steps to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible.”
A spokeswoman for the Children’s Reporter said it is unable to comment on individual cases or provide details of individual children or young people referred to the reporter.
A police spokeswoman said the force is unable to comment on the incident, other than to confirm: “A 13-year-old boy was charged and reported to the youth justice management unit in relation to an incident on August 27.”