The Safer Schools Partnership, run by West Yorkshire Police and Safer Leeds, will see officers working directly alongside teachers and staff to support education on citizenship, PHSE, personal safety and weapons and drugs awareness.

Officers will also tackle issues which occur in school, including absenteeism and truancy, along with offering wider support in local communities as part of the Every Child Matters agenda.

The scheme, which will be based in 38 Leeds high schools, is thought to be the largest of its kind outside London and officers involved have completed additional training, which includes inputs from Education Leeds and senior teachers within the district.

They will join up with their schools over the coming weeks.

Insp Joanne O'Hare, head of Morley neighbourhood police team (NPT), said: "Our schools are very safe places to be already and by working even closer together we can ensure that both our schools and the local communities within the Morley NPT area become even safer.

"Additionally pupils will receive extra support from their safer schools officer PC Kevin Oates, if required, which could ultimately steer them away from offending."

Jonathan White, head of Woodkirk High School, said he believes the scheme to be a positive move.

He said: "Before this started, we had input from Kevin Oates and he did a very good job, but the action was more reactive rather than preventative.

"Now, with the Safer Schools Partnership, his time will be split between the three Morley schools, so it will be more preventative to deal with problems, talk with pupils and also provide the ability to work with their families as some problems are caused by things that are happening outside of school.

"It's still in the embryonic stage, but he will be in school on a regular basis and we hope to get him into the classroom and speaking to pupils.

"The only worry is that parents will look at this as a disciplinary measure, but we already deal with that quite well. It's a proactive not reactive measure."

Lynda Johnson, head of Bruntcliffe, added her support to the scheme.

She said: "We have worked with PC Kevin Oates for some time now and he is a great asset to the school – another pair of eyes and ears. He is also an independent voice for parents, speaking to them and visiting them at home."