29/12/2011 Reporting Scotland

Good afternoon. There's a claim that headteachers are refusing to

exclude persistently disruptive pupils. That's according to the

Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, who say it's leading

to discipline problems in schools. Here's our education correspondent,

Seonag MacKinnon. Behaviour like this is rare. Of

late, far fewer schools are dealing effectively with challenging

youngsters. We are delighted with what has happened so far it now

please deal with headteachers who, for a variety of reasons, are

unwilling to Cath -- tackled really bad behaviour. Over the last five

years, exclusions have plummeted to 27,000. Offering staff training in

managing difficult behaviour seems to be having an impact. Also a

policy of early intervention rather than letting matters drift but if

those strategies do not work, sending a child to a special centre

can be difficult. It is expensive and there are limited resources

right across the authorities. They still do what they can and the head

teachers hands are tied in what they can do. And the Scottish

government So take? I think schools know that sometimes it has to

happen. I have no evidence that in circumstances where it has to

happen, it does not happen. bottom line is that schools try

hard to hold on to children as exclusion can mean a whole life on

the margins. The export performance of Scottish

businesses has plunged. Lloyds TSB Scotland and Strathclyde economists

report that in the three months to November, there was a deterioration

in results and expectations. They say a muted recovery has stalled.

Engineers are confident they'll have restored power to every home

affected by yesterday's gales by late tonight. Scottish Hydro said

electricity was cut off to up to 12,000 properties at the height of

the storm but that's now been reduced to less than 800. Gusts of

up to 90mph were recorded in some parts of Scotland, with disruption

caused on roads and bridges and One of two men accused of the

murder of the Western Isles teenager has been freed on bail.

The funeral is due to take place tomorrow.

Partygoers attending this year's and Hogmanay events in Edinburgh

are being urged to say -- stay warm, sober and stay. Around 80,000

people will be hoping to give the It is one of Scotland's biggest

annual events. It features live bands, a massive fireworks display

and, of course, 80,000 new year revellers. But with so many taking

part, it is also a massive public safety challenge. The it will be

one of the best ever Hogmanay parties. There will be thousands of

people and we want them to beat say. We are asking people to turn up

early. Gates close at 11 o'clock. The finishing touches are being

made to preparations which began almost a year ago. There will be

around 1000 police and students on duty but there is little trouble

expected. There are over 350 officers detailed to the party. It

is something we have done for many years. We have got to a position in

the last few years where the number of arrests have been in sickle --

single figures and that is a great credit to the organisers and also

to the people who come. I weather has caused issues in the

last few years but forecasters predict that no such problems

should happen this time and that this year's Holburn they should be

relatively warmly welcomed. �9.5 million is to be spent a

upgrading five railway stations to make them more accessible to

elderly people and other people with impaired mobility and people

with prams. The work could see lists installed and more disabled

parking spaces. -- lifts. George Wyllie has never had a major

exhibition in Scotland despite being one of our best-known artists.

His family and friends are hoping to stage a year-long celebration of

his work. Charming and eccentric, just like

the art works he produced. From paper boats to straw locomotives.

George Wyllie's work was popular with people and it paved the way

for other artists. He is in a nursing home now and modest about

his impact. If I have had in influence, that is quite good. I'm

not being stupidly honest. You just do what you think is right.

looks like it is hard work. Like you are an engineer as well as an

artist? I am more and more leaning towards engineering and industrial

processes. Spark is something he had from the start, initially

making up -- art as a hobby as he worked as a customs officer. He

created works for many campaigns, like this protest at the closure of

the Highland sleeper. That and his you met explains why he has been

largely snubbed by museums and galleries but a former collaborator

believes it is time to put that right. He had a tendency to be

treated to lightly by the establishment and that is why, in

his later years, a lot of us feel he feels the recognition should

still be available. That time has come. To mark his 90th birthday,

friends and family are planning a year of special events including a

major retrospective of his work and the artist himself made a

contribution. Probably the last Eight prehistoric creature was one

of 15 way creatures discovered in the waters around Scotland this

year. With no specific brain or face it was found in the waters

around Orkney. Now the weather forecast. She has a

Good evening. Nothing very dramatic. If you are thinking of travelling

for Hogmanay, it is not looking too bad. We have a ridge of high

pressure starting to come towards us. It will be short lived. This

weather front will bring rain and strong winds tomorrow. A few

showers around this evening. But they will die away with one or two

lingering in western areas. A widespread frost developing and it

clear skies. Temperatures will reach around freezing, if not below.

Tomorrow will be dry, cold and clear. Some sunshine in the east.

Cloud will increase across western Scotland and will turn to snow over

the hills. Staying dry across the far north-east. They have wrought