YOUNGSTERS who might find the going tough at lessons are being given a ghost of a chance to succeed at a "school" that doesn't really exist.

Manchester now has a virtual "school" for truants, tearaways and the city's new arrivals to improve attendance and slash the number of youngsters who can't get a regular school place.

Youngsters who have a history of truancy or poor behaviour or who have just arrived in the city from overseas can find it particularly difficult to find a school place.

Headteachers can be reluctant to take on new pupils whose academic performance or attendance could impact on their rankings in government league tables.

But under Manchester's ground-breaking scheme youngsters would be allowed to attend one of the city's primary, secondary or special schools close to their homes, while being registered to the virtual "school".

While they are on the roll of the virtual "school" their test scores or attendance records won't count in league tables against the school they actually attend.

Manipulate

The plans drawn up by officials at the city's education department have been broadly welcomed by headteachers.

But some critics fear the scheme would allow schools to manipulate their position in the government league tables.

"It gives schools another opportunity to fiddle the figures and improve their results," said Coun Simon Ashley, leader of the city council's Liberal Democrats, who says the scheme allows schools to take the financial advantages of taking the pupils without the obligation of including their results.

And Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, says the scheme could ultimately impact on the credibility of league tables.

He said: "It is good if schools are prepared to take these children on.

"But I don't agree with excluding them from national test or exam results, which is the start of a slippery slope. There will be all sorts of opt-outs and parents won't have a fair idea of how schools are performing."

Persistent

There are already around 700 children registered as "attending" the virtual school. It is believed that few of them have actually taken up places at the city's regular schools.

Neville Beischer, headteacher at Wright Robinson Sports College in Gorton, says the virtual school scheme would act as a half-way house for youngsters who may have been out of school for some time, who are new to the area or who are persistent truants.

"Creating this virtual school is a means of getting children back into mainstream education," said Mr Beischer.

"Schools are measured by their exam results so they can be concerned about taking on children who are not going to come to school.

The virtual school is a sort of half-way house.

"Once registered at the virtual school, children can attend a school without immediately going on roll.

"So, if a child arrived just before they were due to take their year nine SATs tests, their results wouldn't count against the school during the key stage that they arrived."

A council spokesman said: said: "This is a pilot project to make it easier for schools to admit pupils mid year where their admission might be otherwise delayed."

Is this "virtual" school plan a good idea?