Eight boys, aged 12 and 13, were charged Thursday in connection with the sexual assault of four 13-year-old classmates.
The accused and victims are all students at Smithfield Middle School on Mount Olive Drive near Kipling and Steeles Avenues in the city's northwest.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the accused cannot be identified.
The mother of one of the suspects spoke to reporters on Thursday.
"He said he was there when certain things were happening but there was no contact," she said.
Toronto Police Supt. Ron Taverner told reporters the charges were laid as a result of four separate alleged incidents on September 25 after classes ended. Some students had stayed behind for a sporting event.
"This took place over an approximately 45-minute period," Taverner said.
"One of the victims came forward to the school official (which) is what started the investigation," he said.
Police confirmed the charges were laid after they reviewed video recorded by school security cameras.
Toronto School Board Superintendent Trevor Ludski told reporters the accused have been issued a "denial of access" letter that means they must stay at home until the outcome of the investigation.
After being formally charged, the eight suspects were sent home with their parents.
The accused will make their first court appearance on November 8.
Smithfield Middle School currently serves 850 students, according to the institution's website.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin
