Head teachers are under growing pressure from the Government to avoid excluding pupils from lessons, whether that be for a fixed period or a permanent 'expulsion'.

It feels that the best place to address bad behaviour and improve's children's attitude is in the classroom, in all but extreme cases.

But does that mean pupils in East Lancashire are getting the softly softly approach and getting away with bad behaviour?

Simon Jones, council member for the National Union of Teachers, said: "Head teachers are under a growing pressure to avoid permanent or fixed term exclusions to make statistics look better. It is widely accepted that a high number of exclusions gives the impression that a school suffers from bad behaviour.

"The problem can arise however, that bad behaviour stays in the classroom, adding stress to teachers."

The latest figures published by Blackburn with Darwen Council show that the number of pupils permanently excluded in 2003 was just under two in every thousand pupils.

For a similar period in Lancashire County Council-run schools, there was an average of one pupil in every 2,700 permanently excluded -- nearly six times less than in the borough council.

In a report to Blackburn with Darwen Council's education scrutiny committee, education bosses describe their own performance as "very poor" and say they are one of the worst LEAs in the country.

Blackburn with Darwen Council now plans to tackle the rise in permanent exclusions with more funding being pumped into a new Behaviour Improvement Programme.

This will establish a team of support professionals who are set to work in three high schools and linked primaries in a bid to improve behaviour and train staff about dealing with troublesome pupils.

But Mike Todd, the new head teacher at Mansfield High School in Pendle, does not think pupils are getting an easy ride.

He said despite pressure on head teachers to make the statistics look better and therefore avoid exclusions, he is in no uncertain terms that sanctions against poor attendance and bad behaviour are at his disposal for a reason -- and he is prepared to use them.

Across the seven schools in Pendle there were 31, 24 and 37 permanent exclusions in 2000, 2001 and 2003 respectively.

"It is essential for a good education that a child's behaviour is addressed," he added. "I have been very clear with the pupils and parents since I began here in January. They are in no doubt I am prepared to use the full range of sanctions.

"I will not stint on using exclusions to maintain discipline. There is a lot of pressure on head teachers not to use the measures not least for the inclusion debate but also to make statistics look better.

"But I believe in being fair and firm. A permanent exclusion cannot be taken without a great deal of soul searching, but bench marks need to be established."