Bullies are being referred to education social workers in a bid to teach them to curb their violence.

Bradford Council's specialist anti-bullying service is now turning to the culprits as well as the victims in an innovative pilot scheme to cut the problem in the district's schools.

The move comes as 11-year-olds go into huge secondary schools with older teenagers because of the change from three- to two-tier education in the district.

Today Ofsted Chief Inspector of Schools Mike Tomlinson said bad behaviour in the secondary-school classroom was on the increase.

In Bradford the scheme means bullies have after-school sessions with education social workers who will try to find out the cause of their aggression to try to get them to stop it.

The workers say there can be a "myriad of reasons" for violence and harassment and some may have been victims themselves. Other keys to bullying behaviour may be lack of self-esteem, a feeling of power or family problems.

But careful work is also being done with pupils who have suffered bullying and harassment.

Today the scheme received high praise from the Council's executive member for education Councillor David Ward. He said: "I think it is laudable to tackle it from this different aspect."

He said the schools themselves were extremely worried about bullying and the change in approach was a good idea.

A report on the scheme to tonight's education scrutiny committee by Barbara Lawrie, of the social education team, says a one-to-one service for victims is continuing and after-school work is being carried out with the troublemakers.

Between January 4 and January 16, 300 reasons for absence were analysed from various schools The report shows 57 per cent were through illness and about 30 may have been connected with bullying.

Scrutiny committee chairman Councillor Elaine Byrom (Con, Clayton) and Committee member Councillor Bob Sowman (Lab, Undercliffe) said they were very worried about the bullying situation."

Ian Murch, Secretary of Bradford National Union of Teachers, said: "It is very important that bullying is identified and tackled. Most pupils are bullied at some time."

l The report on school attendance revealed that during the autumn term difficulties were experienced at Immanuel Coll-ege, Bingley Grammar School, St Bede's and St Joseph's College by children arriving by school bus up to 15 minutes late or being overcrowded. Officers said additional buses had been provided.