Guidelines for Dealing with Drugs – Related
Incidents in School
This policy has been drawn up with
reference to Highland Council Guidelines on above which can be viewed on the
Highland Council intranet. Further advice can be sought from the
S.E. document “Guidelines for the management of incidents of drug
misuse in schools”. This is available at
www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/dmis-00.asp
Of
Concern:
¨
Person
having used or tried ‘soft drugs’ outside school in the past.
¨
Person
having minimal use outside school.
¨
Circumstances
related to the above, and other circumstances where there is moderate balance of
probability but weak evidence.
Serious:
¨
Younger
children involved in circumstances of concern.
¨
Evidence
of use, possession or supply of ‘soft’ drugs outwith school.
¨
Use
or possession of drugs on school premises.
Urgent:
¨
Being under
the influence of drugs in school or at school events.
¨
Any
allegation concerning ‘hard’ drugs or associated apparatus.
¨
Buying
or selling of drugs in any form at school.
¨
Violence,
bullying or intimidation associated with buying, selling or use.
Procedures
Incidents
of the ‘concern’ category will be dealt with by Head Teacher in discussion
with pupils and families.
If
an incident occurs/is drawn to the attention of the school the procedure will
be:
1.
Head Teacher informed.
2.
Head Teacher contacts Area Education Manager to discuss communciation
with Police, Social Work, etc.
3.
Designated Police Officer (see Appendix 1) should be contacted.
4.
Once the incident has been referred to the Police, parents to be
informed.
If
in any situation there is concern about the health of a pupil this should be
first priority and parents should be informed even if police have not been
notified. An appropriate member of
staff should remain with any pupil who is under the influence of drugs and
medical advice should be obtained if necessary. Once Police are involved, parents wherever possible should
attend interviews, particularly if a member of Staff could be directly involved
as a witness (see Reg Circ. No R2/1).
Consequences
1
If an offence has been committed or there has been a serious breach of
school rules, normal disciplinary procedures will be followed up to and
including exclusion. AEM can
provide advice as to appropriate ‘tariff’.
2
The Council’s Press Officer will be informed of incidents and all press
enquiries referred to him if there is press interest.
The school will make no comment to the Press.
3
The School Board will be informed of all drug incidents, particularly in
advance of general information to parents being sent out.
A sample letter is provided in Appendix 2. Any letter issued will communicate the problem in general
terms and ask for parental support.
4
Guidance and counselling for the offending pupil will be arranged if
appropriate.
5
Formal correspondence between school and parents will be handled with
care given the legalities involved and potential for court action (see sample
correspondence, Appendix 3).
6
Head Teachers ‘own notes’ of investigation will be destroyed on its
conclusion and on no account will be handed to any other person.
7
A final record will consist of a brief entry in Pupil Progress Records of
child involved.
8
In serious or urgent cases, a brief written report will be sent in
confidence to AEM.
9
Monitoring of pupils involved will remain a feature of the management of
the situation for as long as necessary.
