Pupils will soon be using swipe cards as part of a truancy crackdown.

The new products will soon spell the end of the class register at four schools in West Sussex thanks to an £86,000 government grant.

Parents will be able to use the internet to check their youngsters are in school as part of the new system paid for by the Department of Education and Skills.

The electronic register system is due to be launched during the next two years at schools including Boundstone Community College, Lancing.

The school was recently put under special measures and given a new headteacher after a poor report from Ofsted.

Also being targeted as part of the experiment will be Littlehampton Community College, Bourne Community College, Southbourne, near Chichester, and Manhood Community College, Selsey, near Chichester.

The pupils will register electronically as they attend classes so education welfare officers can check on unauthorised absences.

West Sussex County Council has launched a blitz on truancy which has included operations in Crawley, with police and welfare officers stopping and questioning children walking the streets during school hours.

A spokeswoman for the education authority said the bid for government funds for the registration software was part of a continuing drive to make sure children did not miss lessons and cause anti-social problems.

Cabinet member for education Sally Greenwell said: "These electronic products will help schools and colleges identify and address any attendance problems at an early stage to ensure children are in school and able to get the maximum benefit from their education."

Manhood Community College is advertising for an attendance officer to work with pupils and parents as part of the scheme.