Two jobs are being advertised at a Walsall school to make sure pupils turn up and behave themselves – at a combined salary of £42,000.

Jobs for an an attendance support officer and time out manager are now up for grabs at Frank F Harrison Engineering College in Leamore Lane, each with an annual pay packet of £21,000.

The first role aims to reduce truancy levels at school and ensure the school meets its absence targets. Meanwhile the second will help implement the school’s behaviour policy.

The successful applicant for this role will look at supporting individual pupils to improve their behaviour. The aim of the role is also to reduce exclusions in school.

Despite the £42,000 outlay in wages, headteacher Martin Cain said the two roles were crucial in improving truancy levels and in turn making sure pupils exam results improve.

Mr Cain said: “We have these two roles in school for quite some time now and they have played a very important role.

“They have helped to reduce truancy levels and have improved the performance of our pupils in school. They are roles which we feel are justified.”

Councillor Zahid Ali, Walsall Council cabinet member for children’s services added: “These roles are certainly not unusual for schools to adopt in Walsall.

“They play a very important role in getting pupils who are experiencing difficulties into school.”

It comes as police in Walsall pledged to get tough with youngsters truanting from schools throughout the borough. Children are being warned not to skip lessons in an attempt to enjoy the spring sunshine as part of Operation Aide.

The scheme aims to stamp out anti-social behaviour in and around schools, with the numbers of youngsters playing truant expected to rise during the warmer summer months.

Officers who suspect a child is playing truant now have powers under the Crime and Disorder Act to pick up youngsters and take them back to school.

David Ballard, spokesman for Serco, the private firm that runs Walsall schools, said: “Schools across Walsall have pastoral staff to work with teachers, pupils and their families on such things as attendance and time off school. Job titles may differ.”