Pupils at unruly school disciplined

Three pupils at the Ridings School, dubbed the worst comprehensive in Britain, were disciplined over allegations that workmen called in to repair broken windows were attacked, the headteacher said yesterday. Calderdale Education Authority confirmed an investigation had been launched into claims that a van used by the contractors was damaged.

Peter Clark, headteacher at the Ridings in Halifax, West Yorkshire, said: "There was an incident on Wednesday when mud was thrown at a van by three children who have been identified and punished." He added: "Reports that a gang of pupils pelted the workmen with stones are widely exaggerated."

The three pupils involved were punished with sessions of detention.