EVERY parent knows that they're in for a rocky ride as soon as a son or daughter hits those dreaded teenage years.

But while some parents get worked-up over loud music and strange clothing, others have to deal with far more serious problems.

Sue Martin's son Sam was thrown out of Highworth's Warneford School at the age of 13 for persistent misbehaviour.

With nothing to do, he and a group of friends caused mayhem on the streets and were eventually asked to sign Acceptable Behaviour Contracts by police.

But at Easter, 18 months after being excluded from school, Sam started at Dorcan Technology College in Swindon, where he has settled down and is attending lessons.

Sue, of Rivers Way, Highworth, says her son has changed beyond recognition.

"Since he's been back in school his behaviour has improved and he is not associating so much with the youngsters he was getting into trouble with," she said.

It was when Sam was excluded that he began getting into trouble with the police. Because no secondary school places were available in the Swindon area, Sam only received five hours of tuition a week.

With so much free time on his hands, boredom became a problem, and Sam and a group of other excluded pupils began running riot.

"There was nothing for us to do apart from cause trouble," said Sam.

Sue said: "He wasn't committing anything criminal, it was anti-social behaviour, but it meant he became known to the police."

Sue was desperate to get her son back into the classroom and eventually a place was found at Dorcan.

Sam started a vocational course designed for youngsters with practical rather than academic skills.

He spends one day a week on work experience at a hotel in South Marston, where he has shown such promise that he has been given a part-time job and offered an apprenticeship as a chef.

"He's much more responsible now," said Sue. "It's amazing really as it has all happened in such a short space of time, it has made so much difference."

Sue, a former teacher and youth worker, believes the root of her son's problems lie with behavioural difficulties that weren't addressed when he was younger.

"He's had problems since he was about eight," she said.

"At the time I asked for him to be referred to an educational psychologist, but I was told he wasn't bad enough."

Sue believes schools should do more to deal with children like Sam.

"All schools with problem youngsters should either have some kind of vocational course or h ave an alternative," she said.

"The authorities have to recognise that you can't solve problems by excluding pupils, because then it just becomes a community problem."

Sue, who also has a daughter Clare, 18, an A-level student, separated from her husband five years ago, but she doesn't believe this affected Sam's behaviour as his problems started long before then.

And despite his difficulties, Sam's family relationships have been good.

"He's never been out of control at home and we have always had a good relationship, even though I was obviously very upset and disappointed that he got into trouble."

Sam was one of seven Highworth youngsters who signed six month ABCs last summer.

But Sue doesn't believe ABCs are an effective tool in the fight against youth crime. "I think it is a negative way of dealing with the problem.

"What you need to do is try and get youngsters who have been excluded back into school," she said.

"What happened was that this group were blamed for things they didn't do, not by the police but by the community. That made them very defensive.

"The contracts should be made in conjunction with some sort of community service which would occupy them."

To help the youngsters fill their time, Sue organised football matches.

Boredom has been identified as a problem for teenagers in Highworth, and Sue and a group of volunteers are planning to open the youth centre for an extra night a week.