SCHOOLS are facing a "behaviour meltdown" and should install CCTV and metal detectors to prevent a rise in weapon use, a teachers' union has said.

The NASUWT union called for all buildings to be secured to avoid break-ins by vandals, strangers and angry parents.

The union's Brighton conference heard that in separate incidents across the country:

n A father had come into school and was beaten up a pupil.

n A female primary school teacher had been assaulted 150 times in six months by the same pupil.

n Two pupils fired 250 air pistol pellets at each other and other children.

n An excluded pupil had walked into a school and stabbed another boy.

Paul Davies, a teacher from Wrexham, said:

"If a school has a problem with offensive weapons, then the technology to deter such weapons should be made available to that school.

"We must tackle low-level disruption or face possible behaviour meltdown."

In many schools, pupils were swearing at teachers, the conference heard.

NASUWT delegates voted for warning signs about behaviour to be posted around schools.

The findings seem to support the view of Worcestershire teacher Tom Kelly, who claims standards of behaviour are declining and there is a lack of discipline in some schools.