Drive to curb classroom thugs

Classroom thugs and truanting pupils are to be targeted by police and education officials to restore discipline in schools.

The Government has earmarked £60 million to pay for the monthlong drive which will focus on some of the worst performing education authorities in London.

The scheme could see some of the most disruptive pupils being sent on summer "behaviour courses" to save them falling into a life of crime.

They will be offered "anger management" therapy and could be required to take part in community activities designed to increase their sense of social responsibility. The Department for Education and Skills is launching a drive to improve discipline in schools at 33 behaviour "hot spots", throughout the country, but with many in London.

The initiative was being unveiled today at a "behaviour summit", bringing together parents, teachers, heads and social workers.

Education Secretary Estelle Morris has made clear links between poor classroom behaviour, truancy, exclusion and crime, warning-that one in three 14-year-olds are in danger of dropping out of school and committing offences.

Previous initiatives to reduce truancy have failed and Ms Morris is now emphasising the responsibility of parents to ensure their children attend school and behave properly.

While attendance at the behaviour classes could not be made compulsory, the source said, local education authorities would place "heavy responsibility" on parents to ensure they attended.

Parents can already be ordered to attend "parenting classes" if their children commit offences or are excluded from school.