PUPILS missing lessons to attend war protests should not be treated as seriously as persistent truants, according to a Bolton teaching union leader.

Bolton National Union of Teachers representative Barry Conway, a teacher at Hayward School, said youngsters who missed classes due to protests could be described as conscientious objectors.

He added: "I do not think protesting pupils should be treated the same as truants."

Ian Price, Bolton's chief education social worker, said that the union view was irresponsible.

He said: "There are plenty of protests taking place at weekends that students could go to."

A Department for Education and Skills spokeswoman said: "Pupils have the right to protest outside school hours. But we do expect pupils to be in school during school hours."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "Any child who does not attend school to take part in a rally would be classed as an unauthorised absentee."

"Unauthorised absence is truancy and headteachers will take the appropriate action to deal with it. We have put in place a range of measures to enable them to do so."

"We would encourage anyone organising a rally to be responsible. Most rallies take place at weekends or after schools hours so it isn't an issue.