THERE'S a new subject now topping the agenda in schools - good manners.

Southend primary schools have led the way in piloting a new scheme to instil more respect in pupils, which will be extended nationally, and also include secondary schools.

The scheme has resulted in another win: English and maths results are improving, and attendance is also on the climb.

As part of the scheme, children are given a set of rules, which include instructions such as "we are gentle" and "we are kind". They are also encouraged to talk about their emotions.

Across the borough nine primary schools and an infant school have been taking part in the pilot since 2003. They are:
* Milton Hall Primary School
* Hinguar Primary School
* Westborough Primary School
* Heycroft Primary School
* Bournemouth Park Primary School
* Eastwood Primary School
* Darlinghurst Primary School
* Friars Primary School
* Prince Avenue Primary Schools
* Earls Hall Infant School.

In 2004/05, SATs tests showed reading and writing improved in Key Stage 1 (infants) in 88 per cent of pilot schools.

In 2005/06 in Key Stage 2 (juniors), reading results improved in 77 per cent of pilot schools.

Six out of the ten schools also had improved attendance.

Janice Smith and Wendy Meddle, learning mentors at Milton Hall, have been impressed with how the scheme has taken off.

Mrs Smith said: "What we have been doing now is piloting work with parents too. We are probably one of the first schools in the area to be doing that.

"We work with the parents, giving them the same kind of information and telling them what their children are working on. The children have been responding extremely well.

"They work in their classrooms as a group and then share it with the rest of the school in assembly." She said the parents' response to the scheme had been "absolutely amazing".

Mrs Smith added: "We are now running two support groups and we have about 25 parents at the moment who we see for two sessions every half term.

"They had been forgetting how much fun it is to be working with their children, getting to know them better and find out more about their life at school."

The scheme was introduced to combat what is seen as an increase in bad behaviour and rudeness, thought to be the result of lax parenting and a lack of authority figures.

As well as saying "please" and "thank you", children are also taught how to deal with problems, such as jealousy.

As a result of the scheme's success, a further 13 schools in Southend, including St Nicholas special school, have received training in the scheme.