Pupils in Britain will be taught good manners at secondary school in an effort to cut down on loutish behaviour. From next September, they will spend an hour a week learning the rules of politeness and consideration. These will include how to behave at the dinner table, when to say 'please' and 'thank you', and how to show respect to others. It is hoped that these 'social and emotional intelligence' classes for 11-14 year olds will help stop children from turning into teenage hooligans. New guidance will encourage teachers to show pupils how to tackle anger and frustration without losing their cool. Schools will be expected to teach pupils the rules of fair play and how to cope with everyday stresses. Lessons will include reading books which cover issues such as the loss of a favourite toy, pet or loved one. And new guidance will encourage teachers to show pupils how to tackle anger and frustration without losing their cool. In mainstream classes, good manners will also feature. English and drama will explore how characters overcome problems and what helped them to do so. In PE, pupils will learn to cope with the disappointment of defeat. Pupils will be taught a mantra such as: 'We are gentle, we are kind, we work hard, we look after property, we listen to people, we are honest, we do not hurt anybody.' A number of primary schools have already taken part in trials in this kind of teaching, and have reported that bullying and truancy have decreased as a result, and classrooms are calmer. 'It is right to expect that manners and discipline are taught by parents - but that's not always possible. Many youngsters have problems at home and it is up to schools to give them a moral grounding,' said Schools Minister Jim Knight.