MEASURES to keep disruptive pupils in education are to be introduced, after Darlington Borough Council was offered more than £80,000 to make improvements.

The Education Standards Fund money is to be used in secondary schools across the borough to provide separate short-term teaching and support programmes tailored to the needs of difficult pupils.

With £33,500 available for the year 2000-2001, and £51,800 for the following 12 months, the council plans to keep disaffected pupils in schools after they have been excluded.

The initiative will involve addressing the pupils' behavioural problems while helping to reintegrate them into mainstream classes.

New classrooms will be built, while others will be converted, so the pupils can be kept on site at the borough's secondary schools, rather than having them attend referral units.

Although the council's cabinet has agreed to the project, the ratification committee will give its final approval next week