THE NEEDS of bright children should be taken just as seriously as those who lag behind, according to staff at an initiative designed to improve standards in the city's secondary schools.

A greater emphasis on the needs of ''gifted and talented'' pupils will not only give them the standard of education they are entitled to, says Brendan Laverty, co-ordinator for Excellence in Cities, it could also reduce levels of disruption in the classroom.

Traditionally it has been believed that disruptive behaviour is largely due to youngsters who cannot cope with the demands of their work.

In the past, the emphasis of ''special needs'' has been on youngsters who cannot keep up with their classmates or have learning difficulties.

But the work of Manchester's Excellence in Cities initiative has found children are as likely to misbehave if they are not being stretched in the classroom and are bored.

By supporting the 10 per cent of youngsters in the city's secondary schools children who are academically gifted or have specific talents, the scheme hopes to improve standards and increase the number of young people in the city who continue their education after leaving school.

''If children have the ability they should be stretched,'' said Mr Laverty. ''It's something that has been neglected over the years. Our most able students haven't been stretched. But they have the same entitlement to have their abilities met as students with other ''special needs''.

''When people send their children to private schools it's because they think they are going to get better - but my principle is that they should get the same in any high school.''

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