Mr Clarke is set to endorse guidelines for an anti-violence and bullying strategy, due to be published by the Forum on Children and Violence, an organisation based at the National Children's Bureau.

Charles Clarke supports guidelines detailing anti-bullying tactics for schools

Towards a Non-Violent Society: Checkpoints for Schools outlines a blueprint for schools to develop anti-bullying techniques, with proposals for monitoring levels of playground violence and methods of tackling the problem.

"Children need reassurance that they can learn and play in a safe environment, free from violent behaviour. That is their right.

"Violence has no place in schools. We must eliminate it if we are to raise the attainment of all our young people."

The Forum on Children and Violence says it is seeking to counter the prevalence of violence. The child protection charity claims that:

• Between 40% and 60% of children are bullied at some stage
• One-fifth of children have been hit at home with an object
• One-quarter of women have been hit by a partner
• Over one-third of young men know someone who has been assaulted in the past year

The guidelines urge schools to adopt "violence-prevention as a central feature of a school's ethos", arguing that "this can permeate the whole school curriculum".

Among the measures proposed are creating close links between home and school, including signing a contract between parents, pupils and teachers which makes a commitment to non-violence.

Carpets set soft tone

Schools would also set standards of behaviour, which would be made clearly known and consistently applied. A budget would be set aside specifically to support anti-bullying policies.

Children who appeared at risk of either becoming a bully or a victim of bullying should be identified early so difficulties can be pre-empted.

Attention should be paid to the physical environment of schools to create a less aggressive atmosphere. The guidelines suggest that schools should have more carpets and better lights to create a softer mood.

Janet Convery, co-ordinator for the Forum on Children and Violence, said the "campaign will help teachers, students, parents and other members of the community take action to make violence unacceptable".