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• Drug policy
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Drug Policy

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Reviewed by Gov Body: TLP Cttee 12 May 2008
Approved or to amend: DAR to update
Review date: Next meeting of Inclusion Cttee

Aims

• This policy provides an outline framework for effective drug education and for dealing with drug related incidents within the school environment. The drug education programme reflects the aims and values of our school and its governing body.

Rationale

• Current research indicates that drug use both legal and illegal is rising amongst young people and as part of the school’s care and welfare of the students; we believe we have a duty to inform and educate them about drug use.
• Drugs are a reality in children’s lives and schools share responsibility with parents/carers and the community to educate pupils about the risks and consequences of drug use and misuse, and to encourage them to make healthy informed choices.
• The school is committed to the health and safety of all students and will work together with parents/carers and the local community to enable students to make healthy informed choices and discourage the misuse of drugs
• The school recognises the need to provide a balanced drug education programme, containing accurate and up to date information alongside the development of life-skills
• In response to our shared concerns at local and national level, we wish to state that as part of its care for the welfare of its students, the school believes it has a duty to inform and educate the students on the consequences of drug use and misuse. The school takes a pro-active stance on this matter, believing that health education is a vital part of the education of all students.

Definition - What is A Drug?

• For the purposes of this policy the following definition of a drug will apply
  ‘a drug is a chemical substance that brings about a change in a person’s emotional state, body functioning or behaviour’. This broad definition allows for the inclusion of all medication, legal and illegal drugs, tobacco, alcohol and volatile substances’
  * see non-prescription drugs and prescription drugs
• This policy applies to students, all school staff, parents/carers and other visitors on site.
• This policy applies at all times when staff are acting in loco parentis this includes educational visits in line with the Schools Educational Visits Policy . The policy applies to students travelling to and from school and during break and lunchtimes. It also affects the use of school premises after normal school hours. Organizers of any after school events should be made aware of the policy and their responsibility to implement it.

Roles and Responsabilities

• Headteacher – the Head teacher takes overall responsibility for providing a safe place of work for all staff and students and as such takes responsibility for this policy, its implementation and for liaison with the Governing body, parents, LEA, media and appropriate outside agencies in the event of a drug related incident. Students who are suspected of being at risk from drugs will be supported and monitored with assistance from relevant agencies.
• Governors – as part of their general responsibilities for the management of the school the governors play a key role in the implementation of the school’s policy for drug education and prevention (as referenced in DfEE Circular 4/95). They will continue their involvement through regular evaluation of the policy. The named lead Governor with responsibility for this policy is Mrs F. Golding
• All Staff – Drug prevention is a whole school issue. All staff, both teaching and non-teaching should be aware of the policy and how it relates to them should they have to deal with a drug related incident. This includes lunchtime supervisors, caretaker and cleaning staff. If they have any queries or training requirements these should be made known to the Head teacher.
• School Improvement Staff – The caretakers/cleaners regularly check the school premises - any drugs or drug paraphernalia found will be recorded and reported to the Headteacher and dealt with in accordance with this policy
• Parent/Carers – Parents/Carers are encouraged to support the school’s drug education programme and have access to this policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the guidelines relating to medication in school are followed (SEE POLICY). The school plays its part in ensuring that parents have up to date information regarding drugs. Parent/Carers have the right to be informed of any incident that could result in potential harm to their child. This can be a very sensitive issue for parents/carers, and therefore, it will be handled with care and consideration. The head teacher will consider if there are any special circumstances, which may temper this right.

Drug Education at the King Edward VI School

Aims/Objectives

The main aims of our drug education programme are:

• To enable pupils to make healthy, informed choices by increasing knowledge, exploring their own and other people’s attitudes and developing and practising skills
• Provide accurate information about substances
• Increase understanding about the implications and possible consequences of use and misuse
• To enable students to discuss moral questions and share their thoughts in a safe environment
• To ensure that all students are taught about drugs in a consistent manner, in line with the school ethos and within the guidance provided to all staff teaching drug education

Delivery

• The school provides a planned drug education curriculum as part of PSHE/Citizenship/Learning to Learn programme. The programme will involve a wide variety of strategies including group work, active learning strategies, using ICT as a resource, role-plays and discussion/debate.
• Three members of staff currently possess a Level 1 Drugs Awareness Certificate and they will help PLC staff in the delivery of the Drugs Education modules - A Gilholm, P.Dixon and M. Turnbull. It is planned to train other members of the PLC team during the year

Year Group	Drug Education Focus	Curriculum Area
Year 9	Tobacco – smoking and the affects on health, Alcohol, Healthy lifestyle, Mental Health Our School Policy on Drugs	PLC
Year 10	Tobacco, Alcohol and other ‘drugs’ – information about drugs, facts about the law, and Our School Drug Policy	PLC
Year 11	Raise awareness of the affects of drugs, especially dance drugs, on the body and case studies of drug related incidents	PLC

• On the whole the PLC team deliver our Drug Education, but where appropriate, outside visitors/agencies may contribute and will be aware of the schools policy. Teachers have access to on-going support and training as part of their own professional development and teaching materials are reviewed for quality and relevance, often via Carol Leckie the LEA Drugs Advisory Teacher.
• Assemblies by staff and outside ‘expert’ are given periodically to reinforce our policy e.g. SORTED, Drugs Advisory Teacher
• Our policy is outlined to students in Years 9 and 10 through PLC programme and is available on our web-site. It will be in the student planner from September 2005.
• SORTED run regular drop-ins in the Student Support Area and are available at our Subject Support Evenings to give guidance/leaflets to staff, parents/carers and students. Our SORTED worker (Clare at present) works closely with staff in Student Support Area and Youth Team to provide information, advice and support.
• A Drugs Awareness session with the whole staff was carried out in November 2004 and will be updated every two years

The Management of a Drug Related Incident

Context

The possession or use of illegal/*unauthorised drugs on school premises is unacceptable and will be dealt with firmly, fairly and as promptly as possible.
* alcohol, medicines, poppers, solvents, ketamin – know as drugs furthermore for the rest of this policy

Defining Drug Incidents

An incident is likely to involve suspicions, observations, disclosures or discoveries of situations involving illegal/unauthorised drugs. It could be:

• Drugs paraphernalia* found on the school premises (* buckets, bongs, etc)
• A student/s is found in possession of drugs or associated paraphernalia
• A student/s is found to be a recognised source of supply* of drugs on the premises (* this could include exchange of drugs without the exchange of money)
• A student/s is thought to be under the influence of drugs
• A student/s discloses they are using drugs

Establishing the nature of the incident

In any given situation staff are advised to follow the flow chart attached (Northumberland Guidelines)
DAR will notify SORTED worker as soon as possible
Students will be interviewed initially by a senior member of staff (in loco parentis) before parental involvement –
Tape recorded interviews may occur as part of an investigation, to be used in at the school’s discretion, should the need arise for further investigation.

Medical Emergencies

In any given situation follow the procedures attached (Medical Emergencies)

Confiscation and Searches

Follow the guidelines (Dealing with Drug related incidents)

Disciplinary Code

-the possession of quantities of illegal drugs beyond the need for immediate personal use, or being concerned* in the supply of illegal drugs, or the sale or supply of illegal drugs, will result in permanent exclusion. Evidence of the sale or supply of drugs may be based on evidence of third parties. SORTED worker will be notified and councelling offered. Parents/carers will be informed. Consideration will be made about giving the available evidence to the police. * As defined in The Misuse of Drugs Act 1997

- the use or possession of illegal drugs will normally result in permanent exclusion, unless there is full co-operation with any investigations carried out by the school: in this case there will be a fixed term exclusion and readmission on a contract which makes clear that a further incident will result in permanent exclusion. Parent/carers will be involved in the re-admission process/contract* following a fixed term exclusion. SORTED worker will be notified and councelling offered. Review meetings will be set up. Consideration will be made about giving the available evidence to the police.

-Possession of equipment for the use of illegal drugs will lead to a fixed term exclusion and readmission on a contract, which makes it clear that a further incident will result in a permanent exclusion. Parent/carers will be involved in the re-admission process/contract* following a fixed term exclusion. SORTED worker will be notified and councelling offered. Review meetings will be set up. Consideration will be made about giving the available evidence to the police.

-Students who abuse other substances e.g. solvents, alcohol will face a fixed term exclusion and re-admission on a contract* that may lead to a permanent exclusion. . Parent/carers will be involved in the re-admission process/contract following the fixed term exclusion. Review meetings will be set up. SORTED worker will be notified and councelling offered.

Responses

A response should aim to provide students with the opportunity to learn from their behaviour and to develop as individuals and should be justifiable in terms of the seriousness of the incident, the needs of the individual, consistency of school rules and disciplinary action for breaches of school rules.

Possible responses include:

Intervention
Referral
Counselling
Behaviour contract
Inter agency programme
Fixed period exclusion
Support Action Plan
A managed move

Permanent exclusion - in exceptional circumstances, even for a one off or first offence the head teacher may judge that an incident involving the supply of drugs warrants permanent exclusion, the decision will also depend on the precise circumstances of the case, including the evidence available and the nature of the case. (see above)

Or a combination of these responses e.g. a fixed period exclusion, followed by counselling and Support Action Plan

Recording the incident

Use the sheet (Record of drug-related situation) to record any incident and file with HOY and named Drugs co-ordinator – D.A.Reeman and then passed to Drugs Advisory Teacher

Confidentiality

The nature of confidentiality is not altered by the fact that a case involves drugs. Teachers cannot and should not promise total confidentiality. If a student discloses information which is sensitive, not generally known, and which the student asks not to be passed on, the request should be honoured unless it is unavoidable in order to fulfil their professional and moral duties in relation to:
Child protection, co-operating with police investigation and referral to external agencies

Informing Parents/carers

Parents/carers will be informed in any situation, and informed as to how the school intends to respond to the incident and the child’s needs. Parents/carers will be involved in the re-admission process following a fixed term exclusion and will attend review meetings. In the event of this causing the safety of the child to be put at risk, the named Child Protection person should be informed

Smoking

The school operates a no smoking policy. Students found to be smoking are placed in an after school detention.

The Student Support Area

The area has a number of leaflets and information available on Drugs, Health issues and giving up smoking. A drop in is also available run by SORTED, this operates one lunchtime per week, currently on Wednesday’s . Staff in the Student Support Area work closely with SORTED worker.

Non- Prescription drugs

Students will only be given these, if they have a note from parents and the non-prescription drug is in a provided named container e.g. paracetamol, hay fever tablets. The non-prescription drugs will be kept in the Student Support Area. (MY has responsibility for this)

Prescription Drugs

Any student who needs to take prescription drug should inform the Student Support Area. The prescription drug will be kept in Student Support Area in a named container, a letter of consent from parent/carer will also be needed. The prescription drug will be administered by a First Aid trained member of staff. A list of student concerned is located in the Student Support Area.(MY has responsibility for this)