Malvern's two high schools are among the top three in the county for excluding pupils permanently.

In the year 2000/1, nine pupils were expelled from The Chase and ten from Dyson Perrins. This represents 0.52 and 1.18 per cent of the respective school rolls.

The only school in the county to expel more pupils was Elgar High in Worcester, which excluded 19, or 2.41 per cent.

Headteachers at both Malvern schools are adamant that the figures give a misleading impression.

Peter Buchanan, at Dyson Perrins, said that 2000/1 had been an unusual year for exclusions in his school.

"A number of the pupils I had to exclude permanently had previously been excluded from other schools," he said. "If I had been hard-nosed about it I would not have given them a second chance. "I believe I did the right thing in giving them a second chance but I was taking a risk and, in these particular cases, I lost and it affected the school's figures.

"There are several other pupils here who were admitted under the same circumstances and who so far have taken their second chances."

Mr Buchanan said permanently excluding a child was a step no school would take lightly.

"The line we take is the vast majority of the pupils want to come here and want to be educated and I will not have their chances messed up by disruptive behaviour from a few individuals," he explained.

"Maybe the reason Malvern comes so high up the list is that we expect higher standards of behaviour."

David Fawbert, of The Chase, said: "The school is the largest in the authority, so its nine exclusions represent a relatively small percentage of the population. The school is caring but firm; it extends a huge cushion of care and concern to those in need.

"On the other hand, the school will not tolerate persistent bad behaviour and there is a limit to what pastoral care, compassion and inclusion can achieve.

"The interests of pupils as a whole are ultimately paramount."