EDUCATION chiefs have bucked the national trend and reduced the number of children they are expelling from East Lancashire schools.

In Blackburn with Darwen, which has nine high schools and 57 primary schools, the total number of pupils told not to come back to school dropped from 50 in 2002-3 to 40 in 2003-4.

And Lancashire County Council, responsible for 489 primary and 88 high schools, has seen a reduction, from 340 in 2002-3 to 330 in 2003-4.

The UK as a whole saw 9,880 permanent exclusions in 2003-4 -a six per cent rise on the previous year.

Education bosses stressed that expelling pupils in East Lancashire remained a "last resort."

Peter Morgan, interim director of children's services for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said the figures were testament to the local authority's belief that expulsions were only necessary when all other options had failed.

He added: "No school ever wants to permanently exclude a pupil from their community. When pupils experience difficulties schools work with parents and other agencies to resolve the difficulties."

The fall may partly be explained by the rise in suspensions - known as fixed term exclusions - which have risen in both local authority areas. In 2003-4 Blackburn with Darwen Council issued 1,066 suspensions which can vary from three to 15 days in length - compared to 1,058 the previous year.

In the same period Lancashire County Council's fixed term exclusions increased by over 5,000 to 37,553.

But Mr Morgan said strategies like the government backed in-school centres across East lancashire were also having a positive effect.

The centres enable disruptive pupils to receive behavioural advice and support while they are taught away from other children.

And he stressed excluded pupils received intensive support to help them back into a new school place or alternative provision.

Alan Whittaker, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for schools said: "I must stress that permanent exclusions are considered as a last resort and we have a statutory obligation to educate all children, which is also high on the government's agenda.

"Behaviour is good in Lancashire schools most of the time and we need to ensure that they are stable and secure places for pupils and staff."

Referring to the rise in fixed term exclusions, he said initiatives such as developing a behaviour strategy within all schools should see the number of suspensions drop.