GWENT children will be forced to behave on school buses as part of a new measures to be introduced in January.

The Assembly has published its first ever All Wales Travel Behaviour Code in a bid to improve the behaviour and safety of pupils travelling to school or college.

The code comes into force next term and covers all forms of transport including bus, train, walking and cycling for students aged five to 19.

Headteachers and local councils will now have the power to take action against students who misbehave on their way to and from school or college.

This new code will now allow them to suspend or exclude pupils and action will be down to the individual school and authority.

The code also states that operators and drivers will have a responsibility to report any incidents of bad behaviour and the Assembly is encouraging pupils to do the same.

Deputy first minister and transport minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, said the Assembly appreciates the problems poor behaviour can have on bus drivers.

Managing director of Newport Transport, Christopher Blyth, said he welcomed the announcement.

He said: “I am glad to say that the vast majority of our young passengers are model pupils. Unfortunately, the unruly behaviour of a small minority does pose a problem.”

He said they had already taken a number of successful steps such as using the same bus drivers for many of its school routes so children feel safe and build a rapport of trust and understanding with their driver.

Newport Transport buses also have CCTV so children who do misbehave can be identified.

The Argus spoke to one Newport headteacher, John Wilson, who said the code would be useful to some schools.

The Duffryn High School headteacher said his school has experienced very few problems with school buses.

He said part of that is down to the school working with Newport Transport.

Mr Wilson said he believed a good school would consider it as its duty to follow up issues outside school if need be.

He added: “I’ve followed up projects and issues which have been relatively few. Part of it is establishing a good relationship with the community.”