Updated May 11, 2026 — 1:05pm,first published 12:10pm
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The principal who survived a frenzied knife attack on school grounds has spoken out after the teacher who stabbed him was sentenced to jail.
Former Keysborough Secondary College teacher Kim Ramchen pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, unlawful assault and intentionally causing injury over the incident, where staff intervened to save principal Aaron Sykes last year.
School teacher Kim Ramchen is accused of stabbing his principal in early December.
Magistrate Tim Bourke told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday that the 37-year-old’s offending was particularly serious because it happened in a school environment.
“The offending occurred in a safe place, in what should be a safe place, not only for students but workers and the broader school community,” he said.
One of the two knives used in the attack against school principal Aaron Sykes.
Sykes paid tribute to the staff who acted without hesitation to step between him and Ramchen.
“Their courage and professionalism in an extremely difficult situation were extraordinary,” he said in a statement.
Those who helped included someone from the library team who provided Sykes with first aid, an assistant principal who intervened and a member of the school’s business team who placed herself in harm’s way, the principal said.
“It is important to recognise that in moments like these, people step forward with bravery and care. I am deeply grateful to them.”
Sykes, who has yet to return to work following the attack on December 2, said he received support from across the country.
“I have been humbled by the messages of support from students, including heartfelt cards and letters. All were especially meaningful and will stay with me.”
He said his focus was now on the future, which he was deeply passionate about.
During sentencing, the magistrate noted Ramchen was just four years old when his mother disappeared, and 14 when his father died.
Slavik “Vic” Ramchen was suspected of having had a hand in his wife’s disappearance, but died in 2002 from pancreatic cancer after charges against him were withdrawn.
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Kim Ramchen was raised by his siblings, who described him as “quirky”, and said the attack on Sykes was “disturbing and shocking”.
Magistrate Bourke said the former teacher was under significant strain at the time of the attack. He was going through marriage issues, his work contract wasn’t renewed, and he had an opioid addiction.
The former IT teacher took a 10-centimetre knife from a staff kitchen at the high school in Melbourne’s south-east before entering the principal’s office, where Sykes was alone.
The court heard Ramchen attacked, putting the knife up to the principal’s throat.
The pair wrestled to the floor with Sykes yelling, “But, I didn’t do anything.”
Other teachers rushed to the office, where they saw Ramchen kneeling on top of Sykes and trying to stab him with the knife.
Two teachers were able to pull the 37-year-old off Sykes, but he escaped and returned to the nearby kitchen, where he grabbed a larger chef’s knife.
The school was placed into lockdown, and emergency services were called, but Sykes, who was covered in blood, was unable to lock his office.
Emergency services lead Ramchen away at Keysborough Secondary College on the day of the attack.Nine News
Ramchen returned and attacked Sykes again, but staff restrained him until authorities arrived.
After his arrest, the teacher told police he “mentally snapped” after learning his contract at the school would not be renewed, and he intended to incapacitate the principal.
He had previously worked as a software engineer, a cybersecurity researcher in the US and a tutor in the University of Melbourne’s engineering department before turning to teaching.
A doctor who examined Ramchen said the teacher believed he was “treated unjustly, and came to consider the principal was primarily responsible for this”.
Ramchen, who was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with a non-parole term of eight months and 14 days, will be eligible for parole in just over three months with time served.
The Department of Education said it continued to work closely with the school over the “shocking incident” to ensure it could access all the well-being supports needed.
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Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP.Connect via X or email.From our partners