THESE are some of the shocking home-made weapons confiscated from schoolchildren in Hampshire which have prompted teachers to say enough is enough.

A Southampton teacher and union spokesman has lifted the lid on the dangers in schools where foul-mouthed abuse is "part of everyday life" and pupils fight with vicious gadgets.

Poor discipline, even in junior school, makes teachers want to leave the city and harms students' learning, he warns.

But the council said violence was unusual, teacher recruitment is up and steps have been taken to increase special school places for children with behavioural difficulties.

Ron Clooney, 47, who represents 7,000 teachers in the south in his role as member of the National Association of Schoolteachers and Union of Women Teachers' (NASUWT) national executive, says it's time to get the situation out in the open.

In his hands he holds a chair leg, a piece of piping and two home made martial-arts style throwing stars made from compact discs all taken off children in the classroom in the past five months. He also has a piece of adhesive gum with drawing pins sunk in it which, when combined with a thick rubber band, makes a horrifying catapult.

He says violence against staff is still rare but pupil on pupil violence is on the rise and teachers put up with too much abuse.

He said: "Pupil indiscipline has got worse. We have had teachers assaulted and we have had threatening behaviour with an iron bar.

"I have had to take an iron bar away from one pupil who was brandishing it at another. Some time ago a member of staff had to take an air gun from a pupil.

"It's a big issue in teachers' minds. It's getting to the stage where enough is enough. We have got to stop avoiding the subject and accept we've got a problem."

The day-to-day abuse also takes its toll on staff morale.

"Swearing at staff is quite common in the secondary sector. It is quite upsetting when you are attempting to enforce school rules. One of the major reasons for teachers leaving Southampton is pupil indiscipline."

Even city junior schools have a problem, he says.

"Violence is happening in junior schools. There is kicking and biting, punching and swearing at teachers and other pupils there."

Mr Clooney points the finger at the city council's policy of including youngsters with behavioural difficulties in mainstream classrooms.

He says they disrupt lessons, take up to 75 per cent of a teacher's time away from other pupils and also don't get the help they need.

"My belief is that there are many children kept in mainstream classes that really need specialist help. We want them educated in places where they will not be able to be violent."

The NASUWT says some schools in Southampton deal with pupil indiscipline better than others and it wants a city-wide behaviour policy put into place.

A city council spokesman said: "Instances involving weapons in schools is not just something that happens in Southampton but happens around the country. However, it's still something which is very unusual.

"It's a matter that the NASUWT have said they are anxious about and we recognise that and have already written to them inviting them to meet with us. We would still welcome the chance to talk."