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Managing Drugs Misuse




Despite the efforts of all those involved in drugs education both inside and outside school, incidents of drugs misuse will occur.

The school and the Governing Body reserve the right to consider each substance incident individually and recognise that a variety of responses may be necessary. The school will seek to balance the interests of the pupils involved, the other school members and the local community. Permanent exclusion is seen as a last resort as it may only transfer the problem.

Illegal Substances

  • Incidents Outside School
  • Any known incident of misuse of illegal substances outside school hours or off school premises will be reported to parents and the police
  • As with other acts of a serious or criminal nature, any proven incident of drug supplying outside school may result in permanent exclusion from school, depending on the nature and quantity of the illegal substances in question

 

Incidents in School (including on the school grounds or on school buses)

  • Any pupil found in possession of illegal substances in school will receive a minimum 5 day fixed term exclusion from school. Parents will be asked to come into school and the police will be informed. Repetition of such an incident will result in permanent exclusion.
  • Any pupil in possession of illegal substances with obvious intent to supply to others, or found to be supplying drugs to others, may be permanently excluded from school with immediate effect. The police will be informed.

 

The school’s policy and procedures follow Cornwall County Council’s Policy on drug and Alcohol misuse as part of its Health and Safety Policy.

Staff Action

All staff accept that the misuse of illegal substances by pupils must be dealt with quickly and with the utmost seriousness.

Any reports of the misuse of substances must be immediately passed to a member of the pastoral staff, Deputy Head or Headteacher.

Any teacher who has just cause to search the belongings of a pupil must do so in the presence of another member of staff. No physical body searches will be made by teachers.

In normal circumstances parents will be informed and will be present if a pupil is to be interviewed by the police. The Headteacher (or a Deputy Head) will decide if a pupil is to be interviewed by the police without the presence of a parent.

All pupils involved in drug related incidents, and their parents will be given information on where to seek advice and counselling.

All communication with the media relating to such incidents will be dealt with by the Headteacher or a Deputy Head.

Alcohol

The misuse of alcohol among the young people of Saltash causes far more problems out of school hours than any other drug, legal or illegal.

The schools' drugs education programme therefore puts great emphasis on alerting pupils to the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Pupils must be aware that under no circumstances must alcohol be brought onto the school grounds or into the school premises. Should this occur parents will be informed and depending on the seriousness and frequency of incidents appropriate sanctions applied.

Cigarette Smoking

 

  1. Any pupil discovered smoking will be reported to the Head or Assistant Head of Year who will caution the pupil and contact parents
  2. In the event of a second occurrence the Head or Assistant Head of Year will interview the pupil who will be isolated at break for an agreed length of time. Parents will be informed of this by Heads or Assistant Heads of Year
  3. If a further incidence is reported Heads or Assistant Heads of Year will arrange for pupils to be detained at breaks and lunchtimes for a week. At this stage a warning letter will be sent home informing the parent of this, the third incident. It will remind parents of school policy on this and request their help in ensuring that children do not bring cigarettes, matches or lighters to school. Parents will be asked to contact Heads or Assistant Heads of Year by telephone
  4. A fourth episode will result in the sending of a further letter home. This will request parents to come into school to discuss the situation where the child is flouting school regulations. Decisions on further sanctions will be made in the light of overall behaviour patterns

 

Solvent and other substance misuse

While not illegal substances, pupils are alerted to the dangers of the misuse of solvents and other substances.

As in the case of alcohol abuse the matter will be treated with the utmost seriousness and appropriate sanctions applied.

ANY STUDENT ENTERING SCHOOL PREMISES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE MISUSE OF ANY SUBSTANCE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED AND PARENTS CONTACTED. IF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES ARE INVOLVED THE POLICE WILL BE CONTACTED.



I Bryce
July 2005