Once upon a time, school children were taught to sit quietly and behave. Times have changed.

In their after-school club at least, kids at Brighton's Elm Grove Primary School are encouraged to let rip in a rebellious style that would make The Jam proud.

Art teacher Ian Trice, a former punk, has been teaching nine to 11-year-olds to form their own bands and create rock and roll music and lyrics.

The results are impressive. The bands have just recorded an album of original songs and are set to play a live gig later this month.

Mr Trice, 40, said the idea for the project came from the old punk maxim of "here's three chords, now form a band". He taught the children a little about how to play and encouraged them to find their own sound using electric guitars, keyboards and some adventurous vocals.

He said their work ended up "bursting with the sort of rawness and honesty that many proper bands would die for".

On the album, called Playloud 3, there are songs about waiting for the end of school, visiting the shops, a teacher and an ode to marshmallows.

Mr Trice said: "From a Fall-esque rant about the Co-op to a Jacques Brel-style death waltz, these songs ooze charm and attitude.

"Many of the members of the six bands featured on the CD had never before played an instrument, so what the listener hears is the genuine thrill of discovering that magical mix of noise and electricity for the first time."

Mr Trice has been running the project for several years.

He said: "I work with them in rehearsing the songs and giving them some help. It is all their ideas.

"There are always bands around that are inspired by that style, whether the Arctic Monkeys of the Kaiser Chiefs. Those are their reference points.

"Because the scales are rudimentary, it lends itself to that style.

"The whole thing about punk was no one could dance, you don't have to wait for somebody to learn all the chords. It is just about having the idea and the energy to get out and do it, so it does connect with them quite well."

He said the children enjoyed learning about the music because it is already part of their culture and their cultural heritage.

Mr Trice used to gig around Brighton in places like the Freebutt, in bands including one called Brunt.

The bands will play at Elm Grove School Hall on Friday, June 22 from 3.30pm to 4.45pm. Tickets are £1 and available from the school office.