Pupils considered to have serious behavioural problems at CedarBridge Academy are those who receive three or more referrals for discipline.

At that point intervention teams step in to help put pupils back on track with programmes including counselling, educational therapy, extra classes and parent workshops.

Referrals can be for a number of reasons, including behaviour, attendance, academic performance and not wearing the correct uniform.

Figures provided by the Ministry of Education show that in the school year 2004 to 2005, one percent of students in senior year one (S1) got three or more referrals in the first term and five percent did so in the second term.

This year, the figures for S1 were up to two percent in the first term and are, so far, down to three percent this term.

The figures for senior year two (S2) were three percent in the first term and five percent in the second.

This year in S2, it went down to two percent of students getting three or more referrals in the first term and, so far, three percent this term.

No students in senior years three (S3) or four (S4) received three or more referrals this year or last year.

A Ministry of Education spokesman said: "CedarBridge Academy sets high standards and is pleased to report that the data for this year shows that a relatively small section of the student population has received three or more referrals."