A sneaky snake escaped being caught by leaping from one tree to another leaving schoolkids stunned, reports the Story Trender.

Staff from a school in Queensland, Australia, were alerted to a stray reptile hidden in a tall shrub outside their front office.

To relocate the unwanted common tree snake on April 4, they tried reaching into the leaves with a long pole.

Sensing its impending imprisonment, the crafty creature jumps from one canopy to a smaller nearby shrub before slithering away leaving the children screaming.

Richie Gilbert, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, was called to try and find the escaped snake.

Richie said: ‘Let’s just say it didn’t go to plan.

‘The snake made the perfect getaway and hasn’t been seen since.

‘It felt threatened so as a last resort it wanted to make a jump for it.’