TAVISTOCK College is pioneering a brand new programme aimed at driving down the number of pupils expelled from the school.

Extra cash, provided this autumn by the Department of Education, will finance the work of an inclusion unit at the college — known as the Stannary Centre.

The aim of the centre is to devise appropriate and flexible education programmes to encourage those students the college believe are not achieving their full potential.

The centre, led by teacher Wendy Roderick, aims to strengthen partnerships between school and parents and works in conjunction with the Alexander Centre which provides outdoor education and leadership skills.

John Simes, college principal, said: 'The college's inclusion unit is in its early formative stage at present, having only started operation in September.

'Wendy and her team have worked extremely hard to get this important work off the ground and there has already been a noticeable impact on our inclusion policy.'

Mr Simes said staff are looking forward to the effects the unit has on pupil achievement — which will be measured in the coming terms.

'I hope to be able to show how our students are developing greater independence, demonstrating leadership skills and taking advantage of exciting new courses,' he said.

Life skills courses, a homework club for which late buses have been laid on for pupils and a 'buddying' scheme where sixth formers help youngsters who might be having difficulties have been included in the programme of work.

The Alexander Centre is using county council outdoor centres on Dartmoor for activities such as team building and canoeing.

More than 25 year 10 and 11 students from Tavistock College are doing one activity a month throughout the winter.

John Collacott, community education tutor at the Alexander Centre, said: 'We are able to focus on a number of issues to put them back on track in college.

'We hope to extend the Alexander Centre so we can deliver additional youth work in the evenings and at weekends.'

Tony Smith, director of education, arts and libraries for Devon, said the reduction of permanent exclusions in the county was 'encouraging'.

The figure for the county has dropped yet again — the latest figures for the 1999/2000 academic year show 81 pupils were excluded, down from 94 the previous year and 118 the year before that.

'However, the even more challenging targets of 70 for this academic year and 60 for next will be hard to meet,' said Mr Smith.

'The benefits of the inclusion initiatives and activities are evident from the reduction in exclusions.

'Permanent exclusions continue to be used sparingly by the schools as the punishment of last resort.'