A referral unit for youngsters expelled from the district's schools has been praised for its achievements by Government inspectors.

Ofsted inspectors say pupils using the Schools Pre-Admission Unit at Fairweather Green, Bradford, are offered a positive learning environment and an excellent standard of teaching.

The Jesse Street facility caters for 24 youngsters at a time on a half day basis. Each pupil, aged between ten and 16, is given an initial assessment and a 12-week teaching programme, tailored to suit their needs and national curriculum requirements.

Teaching is split into two phases. The first looks at academic and behavioural problems and the second reintegrates them back into mainstream schooling.

The report says although pupils have a range of negative experiences prior to admission they "learn to experience success in their studies and are rightly proud of their own achievements".

It adds: "Lessons are carefully planned to meet the needs of individual pupils, relationships are positive and pupils expect to achieve. The excellent atmosphere is in no small measure due to the team work of all staff."

Headteacher Elaine Collins said although the main aim of the referral unit was reintegration, specific packages involving work experience and further education could be created for older pupils.

"We cater for a mix of ages and abilities and they are all here for different reasons. Because we've got a much smaller pupil to teacher ratio, we can assess their needs properly and come up with a suitable solution."

The unit was set up four years ago by Bradford education authority and is one of two special schools catering for youngsters who have been permanently excluded.

Teacher Colin Bellwood said: "It is still quite hard to get expelled from a school and we find that the pupils have a range of problems - that could mean anything from violent behaviour to using abusive language.

"A lot of it is down to peer pressure. Once you take a youngster away from that environment and get them on their own they start to achieve.

"It's important for people to realise that we're not some kind of youth club with snooker tables. We operate as a school, take normal school holidays and teach the same subjects."

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