Drugs Policy

What the policy is about

The Drugs Policy is an outline of the commitment to Drugs and Health Education for pupils at Claires Court Schools and or responding to incidents.

Why the Policy is required

The policy is required in response to the Governments' strategy towards drugs as set out in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs Together" (HMSO 1995) and DfEE circular 4/95.

Who is responsible for implementing the Policy?

The Head takes overall responsibility for the Policy and its implementation, for liaison with parents, and appropriate outside agencies.

Where is the Policy implemented?

It is implemented through the taught curriculum, the informal curriculum and through opportunities for extra–curricular activities. We deliver in the taught curriculum mainly through Personal, Social and Health Education programmes, Science and English areas, but other opportunities to reinforce learning will occur in other parts of the teaching programme.

When is the Policy implemented?

Through the tutorial and PSHE programmes in Year 7 – 13 in each academic year involving tutorial PSHE staff.

Certain aspects of drug education are a statutory requirement as part of the National Curriculum science order.

How the Policy is implemented and evaluated

  1. Through annual revision of existing programmes of study.
  2. Through discussion at SMT and EMT level.

The Drugs Policy is an outline of the commitment to Drugs and Health Education for pupils at Claires Court Schools and or responding to incidents.

AIMS OF THE POLICY

Drug Education at Claires Court Schools

Aims

To equip pupils/students with the knowledge, understanding and skills that enable them to make the sort of choices that lead to a healthy lifestyle.

We aim to help pupils to become more confident and responsible young people. We aim to equip the pupils with the social skills that enable them to make informed moral and social decisions in relation to drugs in society.

Objectives of our Drug Education programme are –

Objectives of our Drug Education programme

  • To help pupils respect their own bodies and in doing so reduce the likelihood that they will become involved in drug abuse.
  • To emphasise personal safety, personal health and responsibility.
  • To develop self confidence and a high self esteem so that they can make sensible and informed decisions about their lives.
  • To provide opportunities for pupils to practise and develop skills needed to cope in a society where there are drugs (assertiveness, critical thinking skills, decision–making skills, maintaining healthy relationships).
  • To recognise personal qualities in themselves and in others and develop the motivation to succeed.
  • To provide access to reliable up to date information about drugs including medicine and legal drugs.
  • To provide pupils with the knowledge and information about illegal drugs and the harmful effects they can have on people's lives.
  • To let pupils know what to do if they come across drugs or are aware of other people misusing drugs.
  • To enable pupils to discuss moral questions relating to drug taking and so provide a safe environment for them to share thoughts and ideas and to explore attitudes to drug taking.

Managing drug–related incidents

Defining an incident at Claires Court Schools
We have defined a drug–related incident as:

  • Drugs or associated paraphernalia found on the school premises.
  • A pupil found in possession of drugs or associated paraphernalia.
  • A pupil thought to be under the influence of drugs.
  • A pupil discloses that they (or a family member/friend) are misusing drugs.
  • A pupil is found to be supplying drugs on the school premises.
  • A staff member has information that the illegitimate sale/supply of drugs is taking place in the local area.

The main concerns in the management of all incidents are the preservation of the health and safety of all pupils as well as to ensure that learning is optimised.

The Policy applies to:

  • All legal and illegal drugs and medicines.
  • All pupils, staff and visitors to the school.
  • The school premises including at the school gates.
  • Pupils' journeys between home and school.
  • Educational visits, residential courses, work experience and extra–curricular activities.
  • At the time when the school is considered to be 'in loco parentis'.

The school rules regarding drugs

Pupils are made aware that all drugs and medicines must be managed by designated staff and that they must only be brought onto the school premises with teachers' knowledge and approval.

The possession, use or supply of any drug is regarded as a breach of the school rules. Offences are likely to lead to fixed term suspension, suspension pending further investigation or permanent exclusion.

The exceptions to this are:

  • The use of medicines by pupils with parental consent and knowledge of the school nurse (or equivalent).
  • The appropriate use of medicines by staff.
  • The smoking of tobacco by staff on journeys to and from school.
  • The consumption of alcohol by staff and visitors during social occasions on the premises when there are no pupils on site.

Any information about illegal drugs or the illicit sale of legal drugs outside the scope of this policy as listed above will be passed onto the police. This includes the sale of tobacco, solvents or alcohol to under age pupils and information about the use, possession or supply of illegal drugs.

Appendix 1: About the Policy

Definition of Drugs

For the purpose of this policy, the word 'drugs' refers to any mood altering substance: all legal drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, all illegal drugs, volatile substances/solvents and gases, anabolic steroids and alkyl nitrates (poppers). It also includes all over the counter and prescription medicines.

Location and dissemination of the Policy

The policy can be found in the schools' corporate policy file. It has been disseminated to all staff and pupils through PSHE lessons.

People involved in producing this Policy

At this stage of statement, the consultation process has included seeking external advice from local agencies, and it has been prepared through consultation with pupils, parents, teaching and non–teaching staff elsewhere.

External guidance used

The following national and local guidance documents have been used to draw up this Policy: Royal Borough protocol for managing recording and reporting drug related incidents (2004) DfCMS/2004 document 'Drugs: Guidance for Schools'.

Other related school Policies

This policy should be read and implemented in line with school policies on the following:
Pastoral Care Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Child Protection Policy, First Aid Policy, and Trips Policy.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Heads will monitor the drugs education programme and the Policy will be updated and modified as required.

Staff training

All staff are provided with training to ensure they are aware of the aims and scope of the Policy.

Roles and responsibilities

  1. Head – role is to support in the implementation of policy and to be the 'public face' of the school with regard to drugs issues, e.g. with the media.
  2. The PSHE coordinator – role/responsibilities are to
    • Manage, support, monitor, evaluate and review the school's drug education programme.
    • Ensure the drug education programme is adequately resourced.
    • Keep up to date, informed, trained about local/national developments and relay these to relevant staff.
    • Organise appropriate training for staff.

    The teacher responsible for drug–related incidents will:–

    • Provide confidential support for staff involved with drug education and drug–related incidents.
    • Ensure records of all drug–related incidents are kept.
    • Liaise with feeder schools/partner schools to ensure continuity/progression/consistency with regard to the programme and responses to incidents.
    • Keep the Head informed of developments.
  3. Other staff – all staff within school will implement the Policy and will keep the Head informed about drug–related issues.
  4. Parents – the school is aware that parents have a primary role in the drugs education of their children. Parents should be involved by:
    • Being informed of our Policy.
    • Being informed of best practice with regard to drugs education so that they can support the key messages being given to pupils.
    • Being able to ask questions and raise issues regarding their Policy and practice.

Appendix 2: Implementation of Drugs Education

Implementation

We offer a continuous drug education programme as part of the whole school approach to PSHE, with some input in each year of the school. The delivery occurs in class teaching, national curriculum PSHE, tutorial time, assemblies, presentations by visitors, workshops and other visits. The programme is based upon the DfCMS guidance, the National Curriculum Science requirements and the PSHE framework.

The following principles are applied to each unit/session of drug education:

  • At the start of the programme or session ground rules are negotiated with pupils.
  • An assessment of where the pupils are at (knowledge, interest, anxieties) takes place before a unit is taught.
  • A range of teaching methods is used all of which encourage active participation by the pupils.
  • Information about drugs is up to date, accurate and unbiased.
  • Opportunities for reflection/self assessment are built into the programme.

Confidentially issues

The issues of confidentiality, disclosure, and child protection may need to be addressed when negotiating ground rules with pupils. The current advice from the DfCMS is that teachers can 'offer no guarantee of confidentiality'. Staff refer to the Head if concerned about issues raised.

Resources – a range of resources are used in the programme.

Use of external agencies/visiting speakers

The details of which agencies/speakers support the delivery of the drugs education programme will vary depending upon availability and focus of the planned session.

The following principles apply to the use of outside speakers/external agencies

  • All visitors are given a copy of this Policy.
  • They and the pupils are briefed about their input.
  • Pupils and staff review their contributions after a session.
  • A member of staff is present for all visitors' presentations.

Evaluation of the drugs education programme is carried out with pupils and staff, at appropriate points during the programme, and at the end of each year. Pupils are asked for feedback on what they have learned, how useful they have found it and what they still need to know/understand/explore/develop.

Appendix 3: Dealing with Drugs Related Incidents

Procedure for managing a drug related incident

If illegal drugs are found or suspected at school, or if a pupil is possibly under the influence of an unknown drug the procedure is as follows:

  1. If medical help is needed, seek or provide it at once.
  2. Confiscate any drug (ensuring that you have a witness), ask what it is, in case a doctor needs to know.
    1. Give sample to ambulance crew/hospital if required or
    2. store substance, record carefully.
  3. Inform Head.
  4. Determine how serious the indent is.
  5. Is it an accident? A mistake? Deliberate?
    Does it involve possession? Taking a drug? Other pupils?
  6. Assess the pupil's need in terms of education, support, sanctions.
    What can be learned from the incident?
    What support is needed and what is an appropriate sanction?
  7. Consider the needs of any other pupils involved or implicated.
  8. Inform the parents (unless child's safety is put at risk by doing so).
  9. Consider informing other agencies e.g. police.
  10. Complete an Incident Form as soon as possible.

Responses following assessment

At Claires Court Schools the following responses are likely to occur:

  • Early intervention.
  • Referral.
  • Counselling of individual.
  • Behaviour contract.
  • Fixed–period exclusion.

Further Guidance

Searching a Pupil

Staff are not allowed to search a pupil if suspected of concealing unauthorised drugs. Encourage the pupil to voluntarily hand over any drugs. If a personal search is needed and the drug suspected is illegal the police must be called and parents informed. Staff may search lockers with the pupils' consent.

Confiscation and storage of drugs (or paraphernalia) found

Staff can take temporary possession of a substance suspected of being illegal for the purpose of protection. Confiscated drugs will be placed securely in the safe and disposed of by police.

Assessment of the substance

  1. At the assessment stage a decision will be made whether the sample will be destroyed or handed to the police. If it is destroyed, a signed witnessed statement must be made to this effect.
  2. If legal action expected or if a sanction such as permanent exclusion is likely to be imposed, forensic testing by the police will be necessary.
  3. If the sample proves to be a legal/authorised drug it may be returned to the parents.

Police Involvement

The school liaises closely with the local police. If an incident involving illegal drugs arises the school may contact the designated officer to discuss the case and seek advice without naming the pupil.

NOTE

There is no legal obligation to inform the police of an incident but it is good practice to contact the designated officer with whom a relationship has been built to discuss a case and ask for advice without need to divulge a pupil's name.

Policy Date: September 2007

Amended by
James Wilding
January 2008

Review due: September 2008

Statutory Requirements applying:
Circular 4/95 "Drug Prevention in schools"
NC Science Order:
Protecting Young People – DfEE 1998

Recommended Good Practice:
Protecting Young People
(Annex 3, 4, 5 – Circular 4/95)

 
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