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UK: Girl expelled over drugs

Adam Moss

Evening News, Scarborough

Friday 27 Sep 2002

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A TEENAGER has been expelled from school for possessing cannabis.

Sixteen-year-old Mischa Murray was told to leave after staff discovered
an eighth of an ounce of the drug in her room at Scarborough College.

Miss Murray, who says she is estranged from her parents, thinks she was
treated badly for a minor misdemeanour.

But headmaster Tim Kirkup said she was well aware they have a zero-
tolerance policy on drugs.

The AS-level student was ordered to pack her things immediately and was
taken to the offices of the Home and Dry charity for young homeless
people last Friday. She is now living in a bed and breakfast.

Miss Murray said: "They shouldn't have been able to find it in the first
place. It was well hidden in a drawer and I do not know why they felt
the need to search my room."

Her expulsion comes three weeks into the new college term.
Headmaster Tim Kirkup said staff went into Miss Murray's room after she
was sick in the school toilets and "announced" to other students it was
down to her drug consumption.

Mr Kirkup said: "Anyone caught possessing, manufacturing or consuming
illegal substances on the school premises is likely to be asked to
leave.

"The room wasn't searched. The drug was laying on her desk in her room
with some tobacco. Smoking on the premises is also against school rules.

"It was important for me to arrange meetings with social services and
Home and Dry before requiring her to leave the school.

"I understand that she is upset and angry, but at the end of the day it
is a matter of responsibility, particularly among senior students. It is
not as if there was a lack of awareness of the rules."

Three other students were expelled for smoking cannabis at the college
in June.

Mr Kirkup said they would support any attempt from Miss Murray to make a
fresh start at a new college by giving her a reference. She has now been
accepted as a student by Scarborough Sixth Form College.

by Adam Moss


 

 

 

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