A ROSSENDALE high school has been picked to launch a pilot initiative which aims to improve pupil behaviour on school buses across Lancashire.

The new scheme aims to tackle anti-social behaviour after it was revealed there were more than 760 incidents of unacceptable behaviour by students during the last academic year.

Fearns High School, in Stacksteads, has now been picked to launch the project after headteacher Neil Thornley volunteered to take a lead and help establish the way forward for the county.

Mr Thornley said: "We have made enormous progress in co-operation with Rossendale Transport over the last year and any project such as this can only improve the situation and is welcomed by the school."

The scheme is being launched thanks to a partnership between Lancashire County Council, ARC training and Consultancy and children from Fearns in Booth Road.

The policy aims to establish a new way for everyone involved in schools transport to work positively together to tackle anti-social behaviour.

County Coun Nora Ward, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "Experience has shown that if we are to tackle this problem effectively we can only do it by working together.

"The best way for this to happen is for pupils to be directly involved as any incidents ultimately reflect on them and their school."

County Coun Alan Whittaker, cabinet member for education, said: "Good behaviour benefits everyone and helps us get on with the most important thing of all -- education.

"The staff and pupils of Fearns have been a great help in working with us and the consultants to tackle this issue.

"By getting involved and realising that anti-social behaviour is an issue for us all to tackle I am sure their contribution to improvements across Lancashire will be great."

Robert Edwards, a spokesman for Rossendale Transport, said: "Any scheme such as this which encourages better behavioural standards within society can only be a good thing.

Rossendale Transport already has an excellent working relationship with Fearns School and we hope this continues."

The new scheme involves driver training, provided through ARC Consultancy and Accrington and Rossendale College.

A good behaviour contract between the pupils using school bus services, the school and the operator and a poster campaign run by Crimestoppers.

The use of regular trained drivers and a reporting system to record incidents of misbehaviour.

Future developments being considered include smartcard technology and CCTV.