Earlier this week it emerged that government expenditure of £650m has failed to make much of an impact on truancy. Perhaps it's time ministers consulted these young experts, Busted. The scampish threesome's hit That's What I Go to School For suggests more children would go to school if all teachers were like Miss Mackenzie, a racy, 33-year-old "older woman". The mischievous but funny song - "Can't tell my friends 'cos they will laugh/ I love a member of staff" - has led Busted's young audience to approach education in a different way. Half of them wear school uniforms, though admittedly not in a manner their parents would approve of.

Busted's songs about rejection, bullies and psychotic girlfriends have clearly struck a chord with teeny terrors, who greet the band with screams. Cleverly, Busted have denied that they are a boy band, while sounding like a slightly punky boy band. They were reputedly formed rather than manufactured, and claim to write their own songs, although their producer gets a writing credit.

Live, the band wear embroidered punk-rock slogans, and the serious musical duties are handled by session musicians. But, authentic or not, the boys certainly put on a show.

"The volume you're singing at is ... pony!" yells Essex boy Mat as he urges the crowd to sing along. The spiky blond plays bass (really) and pogoes around. Charlie, the girls' favourite, does embarrassing crucifixion poses and barely touches his guitar at all. The other one (James, who, like George Harrison, will surely forever be tagged "the other one") grins, strums an acoustic guitar and looks bewildered by the whole thing. You can hardly blame him. As Loser Kid and Psycho Girl nestle alongside syrupy ballads, it sounds as though the Ramones were sharing a stage with Barry Manilow.

Although the songs are absurdly catchy, the sense of incongruity never departs. Surprisingly, Charlie switches to drums and proves his musical worth, while Mat reveals a rebellious side by reading out the banners confiscated by security. But there is something slightly uncomfortable about their A&R man bounding on with a film crew to present Busted with double platinum discs. By the time an unlikely cover of Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl chugs out, you suspect a fiendish plot to please everybody, including the parents.

· At the Guildhall, Portsmouth, tonight. Box office: 023-9282 4355. Then touring.