BBC News Online: Education

Military training for unruly pupils

Funded by the Treasury, the "skill force" pilot scheme is based on a scheme run in the United States, which has been shown to cut youth crime and truancy rates.

Ex-forces trainers will be hired at a total cost of £600,000 to work with 15 and 16 year olds.

The Ministry of Defence, which is organising the project alongside the Department for Education, said young pupils were not being subjected to a harsh "boot camp" regime.

'Range of skills'

Military instructors were in a position to teach young people a wide range of skills, from first aid to car mechanics, a spokeswoman said.

They would work alongside teachers and parents to devise programmes suited both to boys and girls.

The aim was to develop the potential of youngsters who were not likely to leave school with five or six good GCSEs, but who could benefit from such training, she said.

The Schools Minister, Jacqui Smith, said she was glad the armed forces were looking for ways to help young people get ready for the world of work.

"Schools are likely to find them a useful addition to the range of work-related schemes they can offer pupils from the age of 14," the minister said.