He has been teaching in Lanarkshire secondary schools for more than 30 years, and in that time has seen it all.

He has been teaching in Lanarkshire secondary schools for more than 30 years, and in that time has seen it all.

Mr A, who did not want his name used, believes, like so many of his colleagues, that discipline in the classroom has deteriorated steadily over the years.

And, while he thinks that excluding pupils does in many instances work, there remains a large number for whom it is ineffective.

He said: "What we need to look at are the kids with multiple exclusions. There are kids out there who, in a single academic year, are excluded nine or 10 times.

"If a child has been excluded this many times, then it's obvious that the education service is not succeeding, as we are unable to provide an education suitable to that child's needs.

"I have taught children who, after being excluded several times in their first year, are then excluded several times in subsequent years.

"Why are these kids still in the school?

"For some kids exclusion is a major sanction which they fear, but for a lot who are constantly excluded it means they can lie in bed all day and watch television."

He said new discipline problems have arisen in recent years.

He added: "There is more low-key indiscipline now, such as using a mobile phone in class. Sometimes mum or dad will call a kid in the middle of a class and you are told to f*** off when you ask them to switch the phone off.

"Education is about three people: the teacher; the pupil; and the parent. If the parent is disengaged from the process then so will the pupil be and the teacher then faces an almost impossible task."