The number of expelled pupils in Brighton and Hove has risen by 50 per cent in the last year.

The Government has revealed 30 children were permanently excluded by city schools in the academic year 2003/4, up from 20 the year before.

The increase coincides with a six per cent national rise in expulsions to 10,000 pupils.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith seized on the figures as evidence headteachers were taking seriously the Government's drive against disruptive pupils. She said: "There is a false notion many heads are unwilling to exclude or that any exclusion they make will be overturned on appeal.

"Today's figures show that to be nonsense with permanent exclusions up by six per cent while the number of pupils reinstated on appeal is down to only 130 pupils.

"Every pupil, parent and teacher has the right to expect a safe, secure and stimulating classroom.

"By the Government, schools and, most importantly, parents working together this can be achieved in all our schools."

The figure in Brighton and Hove is still lower than in 2001/2, when 31 pupils were expelled.

Mark Whitby, headteacher of East Brighton College of Media Arts, said: "A 50 per cent rise sounds like a big increase but when you consider there are about 30,000 pupils in education in Brighton and Hove the actual numbers are quite small. The figures fluctuate all the time and this is not particularly dramatic.

"There is a strong perception behaviour is getting worse but schools are much better at getting children into school now. Previously children who would behave in such a way to get permanently excluded would probably not have attended in the first place."

Pat Hawkes, chairwoman of the children, families and schools committee at Brighton and Hove City Council, said most permanent exclusions were because of bad behaviour which had always existed but was now being confronted.

She said: "We have been putting the spotlight on bad behaviour, especially with things such as Asbos, but it's still 30 too many."

In East Sussex, 85 pupils were permanently excluded in 2001/2, 90 in 2002/3 and 80 in 2003/04. The figure remained static last year in West Sussex at 170.

Nationally, there has been a long-term decline in expelled pupils since 1997.

Steven Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Schools are addressing the problem of behaviour. They do need more support."