WELL-BEHAVED children travelling on school buses are to be congratulated by Dorset County Council.

A new scheme has been developed to identify good behaviour and many bus drivers around Dorset have come forward to put a good word in for their polite young travellers.

Pupils at All Saints School in Wyke Regis; Budmouth Technology College in Chickerell; Sticklands Primary School in Evershot; Buckland Newton Primary School; Sturminster Newton High School and the Gryphon School in Sherborne have been singled out for praise.

Assistant education transport co-ordinator at Dorset County Council Elaine Long said: "There has been a lot of negative publicity about the conduct of students on school buses and while we cannot deny that many problems are experienced with general poor behaviour, it seemed rather unfair to concentrate solely on these incidents.

"Children who do conduct themselves properly were being overlooked in the general feeling that students these days don't know how to behave."

The county council contacted bus drivers and contractors in the area and received 14 nomination forms congratulating students from the different schools.

Mrs Long added: "It was clear from the responses that there are many bus loads of children who deserve recognition for their impeccable conduct."

Ron Knott, a driver from Barry's Coaches - which transports students to and from Budmouth and All Saints, said: "On the whole I couldn't ask for a more well-behaved and polite bunch of children.

"It's a pleasure driving them and my day would not be complete without the daily duty of transporting them to school."

Budmouth principal David Akers said: "We received a letter from the local education authority congratulating us on the behaviour of our students.

"We have a senior teacher allocated to each bus and have noticed a marked improvement in the behaviour of our students. It's something we take very seriously."

Deputy headteacher at All Saints Clive Faircloth said: "We are reliant on the hard work of the drivers to ensure that the children's behaviour is as good as it can be.

"We put great emphasis on behaviour when taking children out on school trips and we've been pleased with the feedback we've had.

"But no school can ever be perfect and there are times when a child lets themselves down.

"When that happens we do everything we can to make sure the situation is addressed."

Dave Marsh, of Marsh's Holidays - which transports Buckland Newton Primary School pupils, said: "It is a privilege for me to drive these pupils to and from school each day."

Patrick Hansford, from Mike Halford Minibuses - which drives to Sticklands Primary School in Evershot, added: "It's great to see the helpful behaviour of all the children and their kindness to each other."