Twenty-nine pupils every week on average were suspended from schools across the district for assaulting a teacher or another student, latest figures reveal.

In 2007/8 a total of 1,120 pupils were given a fixed-term exclusion suspension for assault, of which 920 were for an attack on a fellow pupil. A further 200 were sent home and ordered to stay away for attacking an adult.

But the Government figures show there was a year-on-year fall in pupil suspensions across the Bradford district, which stood at 1,431 in 2006/7.

Nationally an average of 1,000 pupils were suspended every week for assault. Paul Hill, manager of Bradford’s Safeguarding Children Board, said the improvement in behaviour across the district was welcome.

He said: “The council and partners are working hard to support schools in tackling bullying and inappropriate behaviour and to convey the message that acts of this kind will not be tolerated.”

Education Bradford said schools managed their own behaviour policies and approaches to aggressive behaviour and bullying.

A spokesman said: “One of the recent success stories in Bradford district has been setting up behaviour and attendance collaboratives with all secondary schools. Schools now work together on managed moves of pupils who show challenging behaviour rather than just permanently excluding them. The managed move is carried out in consultation with all involved, including the student. There are also greater opportunities for students to access alternative education.

“These strategies have brought about a 35 per cent reduction in the number of permanent exclusions in oursecondary schools.”