MISUNDERSTOOD youngsters who lash out at their teachers could be better-off taught at home, according to one education campaigner.

Pupils who don't suit the "one-size-fits-all" school model are being let down by the system, said home-educator Gwen Baldock.

On Wednesday, The Press revealed education staff in York's schools were assaulted more than 170 times between April 2005 and March 2006 - almost one attack every school day.

Gwen, a York-based former chairman of national campaign group Education Otherwise, said: "If you don't fit the current system - because you are from a certain background, or dyslexic, for example - you are like a fish out of water.

"It's no excuse, but when children find themselves in an environment where they are not happy, and do not understand what is around them, they may well lash out."

Figures obtained by The Press earlier this week showed that 172 physical attacks were reported to city education bosses in one year.

But a City of York Council spokeswoman said the vast majority of those incidents were "unintentional and accidental, for example by children with special educational needs who may not have full control of their movements". York's head teachers said assaults usually occurred when children brought emotional problems into the classroom. Mark Barnett, of Westfield Primary School, said: "It is not that they are lashing out at the teachers. It is because they are genuinely emotionally upset about something."

Gwen said: "That is exactly why some people home educate their kids. The broad problem is that we are still working on an out-dated, one-size-fits-all model.

"For many children, school can be a frightening environment.

"There's no need to send them all to one big building every day. It's not that I'm anti-school, it's just not the way some people need to learn."

Gwen took her two sons out of school when they were eight and nine. At the time, she told The Press: "For two years we went through telling our children you've got to go to school'.

"We bribed them - we did everything. But still they became more and more unhappy."

Both sons were later found to be dyslexic. But not before their health had suffered, said Gwen.

Since then, little has changed, and the whole education system needs to be looked at, Gwen added. She said: "It seems a shame we are still using such an old-fashioned system. We really do need to broaden it out."

  • Reporter Tom Stirling asked people in York city centre how pupils who cause problems in the classroom should be dealt with...

Richard McLean, 17, of Riccall, said: "Problem children should be given some help, like counselling. It might help to put them in a separate school for disruptive kids."

Laura Wood, 18, of York, said: "I went to a private school, but there were still some problems there. A lot of parents are leaving the teachers to discipline their kids rather than doing it themselves."

Gillian Byrnes, 61, of Harrogate, said: "What should happen obviously depends on how serious the incident is. In the worst cases pupils should be sent to special schools."

Alun Byrnes, 66, of Harrogate, said: "I taught for 40 years - those were the days when you had discipline. I don't blame the teachers, I blame political correctness."

Marie Staveley, 16, of Thorpe Willoughby, said: "Pupils who are too disruptive should be expelled, but I don't think the problem is very widespread."