Drugs Policy

§  Enable each pupil to develop confidence and self esteem.

§  Raise pupils’ awareness of the world of drugs/substances so that they can make informed and responsible decisions about their own drug use in order to reach their full potential.

§  Encourage a healthy respect for all substances taken into the body.

§  Enable pupils to explore their own and other’s feeling, views, attitudes and values towards drugs, alcohol and drug/substance related issues.

The School believes in sharing the responsibility for the education of young people.

      §  Parental involvement.

Parents are informed by letter of forthcoming lectures and presentations on the topics of illegal substances.  Parents are actively encouraged to contact the school to discuss any material presented.

The School will actively co-operate with other agencies such as the Health Authority, Community Police and Social Services to deliver its commitment to drug education and in dealing with incidents of substance abuse.

Every class has a timetabled session of 40 minutes at least once every half term.  This lesson will follow a planned programme (see appendix 1).  Through this scheme of work and across the breadth of the curriculum we cover the guidance for drug education.

Ballard School’s approach to Drug Education consists of:

This is a summary of that content as set out in the DfEE’s Guidance 2004:

·         At Key Stage 1 pupils learn about being safe with medicines and household substances and the basic skills for making healthy choices and following safety rules.

·         At Key Stage 2 pupils learn about the effects and risks of alcohol, tobacco, volatile substances and illegal drugs and basic skills to manage risky situations. They learn how to make informed choices about their health, how to resist pressure to do wrong and to take more responsibility for their actions. There are further opportunities available to teach drug education in the statutory citizenship within school.

The National Curriculum Science Order states that pupils should be taught:

·         At Key Stage 1 pupils should be taught about the use of drugs as medicines. 

·         At Key Stage 2 pupils should be taught to relate their understanding of sciences to their personal health and that tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can have harmful effects.

·         At Key Stage 3 - Basic facts and laws, including school rules, about alcohol and tobacco, and illegal substances and the risk of misusing prescribed drugs.

·         At Key Stage 4 - About the risks of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, early sexual activity and pregnancy, different food choices and sunbathing, and about safer choices they can make.

There are further opportunities available to teach drug education in the statutory citizenship within school.

National Curriculum Science

The National Curriculum Science Order states that pupils should be taught:

At Key Stage 3

·         The role of lung structure in gas exchange, including the effects of smoking

·         That the abuse of alcohol, solvents and other drugs affects health

·         How the growth and reproduction of bacteria and the replication of viruses can affect health, and how the body’s natural defences may be enhanced by immunization medicines.

At Key Stage 4

·         The effects of solvents, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs on body function.

A range of teaching and learning strategies are used:

·         During timetabled PSHE and Citizenship time, an emphasis is placed on active learning through planned discussions, circle time, investigations, role play activities etc.

·         Teachers will endeavour to provide a safe working environment through the establishment of clear ground rules which are made explicit to the pupils and reinforced frequently.

·         Pupils may be encouraged to seek 1:1 advice.

All staff and parents should be made aware of the programme and ensure that the rights and responsibilities of the whole school community, but in particular the pupils, are met.

·         Outside speakers and Health professionals will be invited to deliver some of the progamme.

·         A variety of books and pamphlets will be made available to pupils as different topics are discussed.

·         Qualified and experienced staff will guide the programme.

Teachers will assess the pupil’s progress in Drugs Education by:

·         Making informal judgements as they observe pupils during the sessions and at other times around the school.

·         Pupil self assessment and the opportunity for reflection.

·         Discussion and peer group reflection.

·         Ensuring that Drugs Education occurs in the school’s curriculum according to the schemes of work for Science and PSHE and Citizenship.

The assessment made will not imply either success or failure.

All staff should be aware of:

·         Child protection issues

·         Answering questions

·         Parental involvement

·         Use of outside speakers

·         Provision of 1 to 1 advice and support

·         Complaints procedure

·         Language

·         Confidentiality

Teachers need to be sure that they are aware of issues that may arise out of teaching and learning about Drugs.  The following are protocols for discussion based lessons with pupils:

·         No one (teacher or pupil) will have to answer a personal question

·         No one will be forced to take part in a discussion

·         Meanings of words will be explained in a sensible and factual way; and

·         Teachers may use their discretion in responding to questions and may say that the appropriate person to answer that question is the parent.

Where a member of staff is concerned that a child protection issue is arising it is his/her responsibility to follow the school’s policy in this matter.

The PSHE and Citizenship coordinator will review the policy annually, in consultation with the Headmaster and the Governing Body.  

Ballard School is committed to the health and safety of the whole school community and will take action to safeguard its well-being.  Ballard School, therefore, condones neither the misuse of drugs by members of the school community nor the illegal supply of these substances.

2.1 No substances are to be brought onto the School premises or on educational visits unless authorised by the Head Teacher or through the agreed protocol for the use of medicines on the School premises. This includes: alcohol, tobacco products, prohibited drugs, volatile substances and medicines. (The list is not exhaustive; other substances may be included at the discretion of the Head Teacher.) This applies to anybody using the school premises regardless of age or whether they are staff, visitors or pupils of the School.

2.2 Apart from the legal position and the wish to exercise reasonable pastoral care, as well as concern for the responsibility and reputation of the School, the School believes that the potential damage to health and mental well-being through substance abuse is great.

2.3 Given that our drugs’ policy seeks to promote an understanding of the dangers to health and personality posed by the misuse of all drugs, and given that we assume our pupils are intelligent enough to weigh up the implication of their acts and are capable of independent thought, we must assume that members of the School who decide to become involved with banned or illegal substances have made their own conscious decision to do so, and are fully aware of the consequences, one of which is that the a pupil is placing in jeopardy his or her continued membership of the school.  If a pupil is caught either using drugs or in possession of drugs on School premises or on a School-organised activity, the penalties will be severe.

2.4 Pupils found in contravention of this section of the School Policy, concerning prohibited drugs, will be dealt with in the following way:-

·         Any pupils suspected of being involved in drug related activities will be subject to a detailed investigation for which records will be kept.

·         Any pupil found to be supplying illegal substances whilst under the School’s jurisdiction will be immediately suspended and must expect permanent exclusion following a meeting of the exclusions’ committee (see exclusions’ policy).  The parents will be involved in any subsequent action and the police will be informed.

·         Any pupil found to be in possession of illegal substances or using these while under the School’s jurisdiction will be immediately suspended pending further enquiries.  The parents will be involved in any subsequent action and the police will be informed.  A decision on subsequent re admission to the School will depend on the circumstances of the individual case, but illegal use or possession renders a pupil liable to permanent exclusion subject to the finding of the Exclusions’ Committee.  The School recognises that there are degrees of offence and will take into account the individual circumstances of each case before a decision is taken.

·         The School’s policy on testing is that it would:

o   Only apply as part of a probationary programme should a pupil be readmitted to the School.

o   Be with the prior arrangement of parents and pupil.

o   Be linked to a programme of counselling at parental expense.  If the testing was confirmed as positive the pupil would be required to leave the School.

·         Random testing under any other circumstances is not part of our policy.

·         The substance and associated paraphernalia such as matches or lighters found in a pupil’s possession in school will be confiscated. They will be placed in a labelled envelope and kept securely until parent agrees to their disposal.

2.5 With regard to smoking and the consumption of alcohol on school premises or in the vicinity of the school during school hours, or during a school related activity of any kind (including transport to/from school) a first offence will be punished by a fixed period exclusion.  Pupils are liable to be permanently excluded, following a meeting of the Exclusions Committee if they persist in offending.

2.6 The School does not take the view that it has no jurisdiction in relation to matters that arise outside school hours.  Quite apart from the fact that the school takes an interest in the welfare of its pupils, a pupil is a member of the School and therefore is liable to affect its reputation and standing at all times.

2.7 The Headmaster will take responsibility for liaison with the media.  As the issue of substance abuse