EIGHTY Worcestershire pupils were expelled in 2003/04, according to Government statistics.

The figure was half the county's 161 permanent exclusions in 2000/01, and also a third down from 2002/03's total of 120 pupils.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith, MP for Redditch, had hoped the information would quash fears that schools are soft on disruptive students - but the trend shows fewer disruptive pupils in the county are actually being punished.

In Worcestershire, 10 primary and 70 secondary school pupils were expelled, while no one from a special school was permanently excluded during the 2003/04 academic year.

"We want a zero tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour in all our schools, on everything from backchat to bullying or violence," said Ms Smith.

Unfortunately, what Ms Smith wants, and what is happening, may not be the same thing - Worcestershire schools are hard up enough as it is without excluding pupils and missing out on the funding that they attract.