SCHOOLS in Bury are failing in their attempt to reduce the number of pupils they exclude.

Despite a government drive to reduce permanent exclusions, the number in Bury shot up from 55 in 1997/98 to 79 in the last academic year - more than 40 per cent higher than the target.

A report to councillors at Wednesday's lifelong learning culture scrutiny review panel said the alarming leap was "a matter for concern".

Chief education officer Mr Harold Williams said: "It's hard to say what the reasons are. Obviously headteachers have been concerned enough by behavioural problems to use permanent exclusions. The rise is disappointing but untypical."

The number of exclusions in Bury is statistically above the average of both neighbouring authorities and those nationwide. The latest figures show the number of fixed term exclusions has also risen from 399 to 473. It isn't just the borough's secondary schools that are failing. The number of pupils permanently excluded from primary schools have tripled.

At their peak, permanent exclusions in Bury numbered 81 in 1995. The following three years saw an encouraging decline to just 55 last year.

Exclusions create a whole series of demands on the education authority, which is largely why the Government is trying to reduce the numbers.

Transferring permanently excluded pupils to other schools in the borough is becoming more of a problem as the majority of high schools are full. This often means alternative provision at great expense while pupils wait for a place.

Additional problems are created when excluded pupils have special educational needs (SEN). SEN workers have to focus on them at the expense of other crucial areas of work. Finding alternative placements is extremely difficult and out of borough placements are costly.

Bury LEA has a special working group which targets the problems of behaviour and discipline.

This is one of the ways in which it hopes to meet the Government target of just 47 exclusions by 2000/2001.

Coun Andrea Hughes, the chairman of lifelong learning said: "We intend to target development at years 9 and 10 and to focus on what can be done with younger age groups to head off problems in the future."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.