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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Kids in drug & booze bans
Sunday Sun
Sunday 18 Jun 2006 Around 900 pupils were kicked out of schools across the region in one year for drug or alcohol-related reasons, we can reveal. The Sunday Sun has obtained figures showing kids as young as 11 were excluded from lessons because of booze or drugs. We asked all 15 local education authorities in the North to tell us how many schoolchildren had been suspended or expelled for these reasons in the last year. And the results - a total of at least 907 pupils excluded - will alarm parents around the region. NUT regional secretary Ian Grayson said: "I am very surprised at how high the figure is. "I am concerned too . . . and I think any parent reading the Sunday Sun today will be concerned." In one Gateshead school, a 14- year-old boy was booted out permanently for trying to sell amphetamines to other pupils, while in Stockton, Teesside, youngsters were caught with cannabis and poppers (amyl nitrate) on school premises. Since May last year, in Northumberland, 75 pupils have been excluded over drugs . . . mainly cannabis, although one case involved prescribed painkillers. Some of the children involved were from the authority's middle schools, where pupils start from the age of nine. At least 25 youngsters across the North were booted out of schools permanently. Under guidelines produced by the Government's Department for Education and Skills, the drug and alcohol related exclusion category includes possession of illegal drugs, inappropriate use of prescribed drugs, drug dealing, smoking, alcohol abuse and substance abuse. Some LEAs provided figures for the academic year 2004-05, while others gave statistics - which we requested under the Freedom of Information Act - from last year to date. In the Durham education authority alone - the largest in the region, with 76,000 schoolchildren - 255 pupils were taken out of school during 2004-05, four permanently. Patrick Hargreaves, Durham County Council's Drugs and Alcohol Advisor, put the statistic down to increased awareness of the issue in schools. He said: "We take a very proactive approach in County Durham. "We have trained teachers and other staff to be aware at spotting and identifying the problem. He added: "There is no place in schools for substance abuse and we advocate a zero tolerance approach. "Pupils do need to be punished for drug and alcohol offences but, at the same time, we don't encourage schools to make permanent exclusions because that is not going to take the problem away and in some cases can actually make it worse." But Mr Grayson, secretary for the NUT in Newcastle, said the figures could not just be attributed to increased awareness. He said: "I don't think it's a case of teachers being less tolerant of the problem because they have always clamped down on inappropriate behaviour like this. "I think, unfortunately, it is more a case of drugs and alcohol being more readily available to youngsters. "We need to ensure, as teachers, that we are more aware of the signs and symptoms of when children are under the influence of drugs and alcohol." The following list shows each local education authority, the period their figures relate to and the number of pupils excluded, for a fixed term and permanently. Redcar-Cleveland (2005 to 2006) Nine. Three drink, six drugs. All fixed term. Darlington (2004 to 2005) 25. All fixed term. Middlesbrough (2004 to 2005) 14. 13 fixed term, one permanent. Northumberland (2005 to 2006) 75. All drugs. 69 fixed term, five permanent. Sunderland (2004-2005) 24. All fixed term. Newcastle (2004-2005) 28. 25 fixed term, three permanent. Durham (2004-2005) 255. 251 fixed term, four permanent. South Tyneside (2004-2005) 51. 46 fixed term, five permanent. North Tyneside (2004-2005) 0 Stockton (2005-2006) 35. 14 alcohol, 12 drugs, nine smoking. North Tyneside (2004-2005) 233. 227 fixed term, six permanent. York (2005-2006) 15. Four alcohol, 11 drugs. Gateshead (2005-2006) 12. 11 fixed, one permanent. Cumbria (2004-2005) 131. Hartlepool Figures not collated at time of going to press. http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/sundaysun/
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