SALISBURY district councillor Frances Howard says that teachers are becoming frightened of speaking out about unruly pupils.

She says that chaotic classroom behaviour is regularly being concealed because members of staff are worried that they might lose their jobs if they tell the truth about problems in schools.

Her comments follow speculation that she will be replaced - as a part-time music teacher at a Hampshire comprehensive - for criticising the Government's education policy at the Tory party conference in October.

Miss Howard, from Harnham, won a standing ovation at the Blackpool conference after saying that teachers were being driven out of the profession by diabolical conditions and pupils "drunk with power".

She added: "If I complain, I am punished, not them. Money is not the point. Teachers are clearing out as fast as they can because of the Government's failure to control pupils."

A few weeks after the speech, Miss Howard's job was advertised.

She has been asked to reapply and a spokesman for Southampton City Council has said that the advertisement has nothing to do with her comments at the Conservative party conference.

He said it simply reflected the fact that a contract had ended and that the post needed to be filled.