TEACHERS must not be afraid to tackle bad behaviour and bullying in the classroom.

But they need parents’ support to ensure pupils do not disrupt lessons for others.

These are the views of Schools Secretary Ed Balls, who visited Portchester School in Bournemouth before delivering a keynote speech to the NASUWT conference at the BIC.

The visit came on the day Sir Alan Steer published a detailed report into pupil behaviour.

Mr Balls praised Portchester’s Easter Sizzler programme, which offers sports activities to pupils during the school holiday.

He joined in with table tennis as well as watching football and wave-boarding.

“The young people are really enjoying it and it can be good in terms of discipline in the classroom,” he said.“It helps to make sure that kids are not hanging around the streets.”

Sir Alan’s report stresses the need to withdraw disruptive children from lessons and also urges schools to take responsibility for problems away from the school grounds, such as on buses and at after-school clubs.

At Portchester, restorative justice programmes have seen a reduction in exclusions and improved exam results.

Pupils involved in disagreements or fights are encouraged to discuss their problems in a bid to make them understand each other’s concerns.

And chair of governors Keith Mitchell said the school does all it can to resolve disputes, even if they occur at weekends or away from school.

Last year 507 learner days were lost due to fixed-period exclusions compared with 580 in the previous year.

The number of pupils attaining five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and maths, has risen from 26 per cent to 38 per cent in three years.