I WRITE to correct the misleading impression created by your story ‘20,000 pupils suspended from Lancashire schools’ on Friday, 21st November and the subsequent correction.

For the record, in the period 2006/7, 5,062 pupils were excluded from Lancashire County Council’s schools for a fixed period, which fell to 3,926 in 2007.

This is from a population of 165,000.

We are in no way complacent about behaviour in our schools but raw data about exclusions does not tell the full story and the situation is much more complex than this.

For example, an increase in exclusions does not automatically mean that behaviour has worsened.

It could be the result of a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour or a change in school leadership.

Generally schools use exclusion as a last resort and we support headteachers’ right to use the powers at their disposal to maintain and improve discipline in the longer term.

We are also working with schools to develop innovative alternatives to exclusion, such as peer mediation and restorative justice approaches.

Both help the pupils change the way in which they behave and understand the consequences of their behaviour.

We should remember that we are fortunate to have very good schools in Lancashire and a system where the vast majority of our children and young people are hardworking and well-behaved.

Vali Patel, Cabinet Member for Schools, Lancashire County Council.