SECONDARY school teachers in Poole are enduring a wave of violence and intimidation in the classroom, according to the latest government figures.

The borough was ranked as second in England for suspending pupils who assault and/or threaten adult staff.

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) statistics revealed 5.9 per cent of Poole students were suspended for intimidating staff during the 2005/2006 school year. Some 17 pupils were excluded due to physical assaults on adults and 492 barred for verbal abuse or threatening behaviour.

However borough education chiefs say the figures show their tough policy on problem pupils is working.

Borough of Poole children and young people integrated services manager Beryl Stokes said she "supports our schools' tough approach towards verbal and physical attacks on all staff."

Only Southampton, at 7.2 per cent, had a higher suspension average in England. Bristol was ranked third at 5.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Poole's Conservative MP Robert Syms said falling classroom discipline was, in part, down to government policy on permanent expulsion.

He said: "They (the government) have made it very difficult for education authorities and schools to expel pupils which has undermined teachers and headteachers.

"Although I am disappointed that we have so many pupils being suspended, I am glad in a sense because at least that shows our schools and the education authority is getting tough with the pupils who are violent or threatening to our teaching staff."

And Cllr Tony Woodcock, cabinet portfolio holder for children's services, said he fully supported any headteacher who "feels it necessary to protect the majority by excluding disruptive or pupils displaying unacceptable behaviour."

A DCSF spokesman agreed violence against teachers and school staff has "absolutely no place in our schools", but stressed serious violence in schools is rare.

He added: "Clearly any assault against a member of staff is totally unacceptable, which is why we continue to focus on ways in which we can support schools in developing behavioural strategies to prevent this from happening."