This exploratory study applied Risley & Hart's correspondence training paradigm to reducing the troublesome behaviour of three 12 to 14 year‐old boys in an inner city high school in the West Midlands. Correspondence training involves negotiating individual reductions in levels of two classes of troublesome behaviour, talking out of turn and hindering other children . The boys were also assisted to collect data on their own behaviour in specific lessons. The school's existing system of rewards was utilised to reinforce the (...) boys for reducing their levels of troublesome behaviour to match each target level negotiated. Results indicate that all three boys successfully reduced their levels of troublesome behaviour and that all three completed an increased amount of homework when correspondence training was introduced. Anecdotal evidence from teachers corroborated the behaviour changes apparent in the boys’ self‐report data. Correspondence training is seen as a viable and worthwhile procedure for improving social behaviour in secondary pupils. (shrink)