YOU can tell a school by its toilets - and they can help improve pupils’ behaviour, the chief inspector for Wales said this week.

Susan Lewis of Estyn, the Welsh inspectorate, highlighted the positive effect of good facilities such as toilets, common rooms and play areas at a Welsh Assembly conference on pupil disaffection.

“I used to have quite a reputation as an inspector for wanting to see the toilets,” she said. “They say an awful lot about a school and tell you about the value the school places on its environment.”

Miss Lewis also emphasised the importance of a sensible school dress code and of treating young people with respect. She reminded her audience that the most disaffected children are either being bullied or are bullies.

The Welsh Assembly is keen to crack down on truancy which seems to encourage young people to turn to crime. A recent survey of criminals revealed 30 per cent of prisoners were truants from the age of 11. In 2000 to 2001, 10.4 per cent (half-day) sessions in Wales were missed through authorised and unauthorised absences. Girls had a higher rate of overall absenteeism but boys had a higher rate of unauthorised absenteeism.

In 1999 to 2000, there were 337 permanent exclusions from schools in Wales. Four-fifths of the excluded pupils were boys.

Jane Davidson, education minister for Wales, told the conference: “Violence and bad behaviour from pupils or indeed parents in schools needs to be tackled and we will support legislation and measures in this area.”

She also promised to issue guidelines for governors and headteachers on the handling of allegations made against teachers when dealing with unruly pupils.

* Last week, four mothers from Neath Port Talbot were each fined pound;50 plus pound;30 in court fees for failing to ensure their children aged 11 to 15 attended school.

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