Schools in Oxfordshire are among the least likely in England to expel their pupils.

Less than one per cent of the county's school population was expelled in the 1998 to 1999 academic year.

Four boys were permanently excluded for every one girl last year, while permanent exclusions fell from 83 the previous year to 74.

The Government has told the county it must cut permanent exclusions by a third over the next three years.

Bayswater Middle School in Oxford expelled three children but this was 14.75 per cent of its pupils - the highest percentage of any school in Oxfordshire.

Headteacher Wally Ryde said: "There were a number of issues that needed to be dealt with and a few children who were persistently violent, threatening, disobedient and disruptive." He added: "Bayswater is now coming out of its difficult period. Things like the Literacy Hour are working."

Cheney School, Oxford, expelled seven out of its 957 pupils - the most of any school in the county, but this was only 7.5 per cent of its pupils and was the lowest percentage among Oxford's upper schools.

Headteacher Alan Lane said: "The figure at Cheney is the lowest in the city because my staff work hard to try to support students to keep them on track.

"We have a very clear behaviour policy. If students are suspended temporarily three times, and show no sign of responding to warnings and guidance, they are asked to leave."

Story date: Tuesday 23 November

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