SCHOOLS are increasingly being expected to pick up and deal with all of society's problems as well as educating youngsters, the acting head of a Pendle high school has warned.

David Fletcher, who will hand over the reins at Primet High, Colne, in January to a new permanent head, said he was concerned at the expectations being heaped on schools and teachers.

"What I am referring to is the massive, increasing and virtually 'catch-all' expectation of society and the government that schools, in addition to all their proper academic and pastoral work, will pick up every welfare, disorder, social or emergency issue that arises from a minister's or a civil servant's agenda or the racism and criminality that pervades our streets," Mr Fletcher told the audience at the school's annual prize night yesterday.

Mr Fletcher said Primet was tackling the issues, often in partnership with other groups such as the police, careers and health and social services organisations.

"I am concerned, however, on two counts," he added. "The agenda grows without control. Once it is established, the government and civil service devolves it to schools, treats the matter at arm's length, and often with minimal regard for the real costs of the initiative in human terms, and then inspect us on the outcomes."

Mr Fletcher said the appointment of Janet Walsh, currently deputy head at Park High, Colne, as Primet's new head from January marked the end of a period of uncertainty for the school.

"The new era will certainly be a successful era," he predicted. "One of the tasks of a new leader is not only to bring the new ideas that will get us moving but also to help us look at ourselves."