Student Drugs Policy
2014-15
Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Student Drug Policy
Abbey Cambridge and Alpha Plus Group
The ACC Senior Leadership Team are responsible for this policy:
Julian Davies, Principal
Telephone:
01223 578280
Email:
Julian.davies@abbeycambridge.co.uk
Karen Lonsdale, Vice Principal (Pastoral)
Telephone:
01223 578280
Email:
Karen.Lonsdale@abbeycambridge.co.uk
Mike Corbett, Director of Operations
Telephone:
01223 578280
mike.corbett@abbeycambridge.co.uk
Email:
Mark Lassman, Director of International Admissions
Telephone:
01223 578280
Email:
mark.lassman@abbeycambridge.co.uk
This policy is reviewed on an annual basis
Annual Policy reviewed by:
Senior Leadership Team
Annual Review date:
September 2014
Next date of Annual Review:
August 2015
This policy has been adopted by the governors, is addressed to all members of staff and volunteers where
appropriate, is available to parents on request and is published on the school's website if appropriate.
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Sep 2014
Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Student Drugs Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Definition of drugs
For the purposes of this college policy the term ‘drugs’ is taken to mean the
following:
 Illegal substances of all classes
 Illegally distributed prescribed drugs
 Solvent abuse
 Smoking
 Alcohol
 Over-the-counter medicines
Statement of policy
The college condones neither the misuse, nor illegal supply, of drugs by members of
the college. The college acknowledges the importance of its pastoral role in the
welfare of its students, and will take action to support and safeguard their wellbeing.
Aims
 To promote the personal, social and moral development of students and thus
prepare them for the opportunities and experiences of life.
 To encourage students to have due regard to the legal, social and physical risks
involved in drug use and misuse.
 To inform students in a balanced and truthful way about the use/misuse of drugs
and the cultures surrounding them.
 To enable students to understand accurately the biological and psychological
effects of legal and illegal drugs and to provide them with sufficient information to
protect themselves and others from the effects of drug misuse.
 To keep up-to-date with developments in the drug field, thus ensuring that
accurate and current information is made available to the students.
 To raise awareness among teaching staff of drug issues, thus ensuring an
informed, measured and reasonable approach.
 To enable students to understand aspects of legislation relating to drug use and
to make them aware of sources of help and advice available within the family, the
college and the community.
 To ensure students understand that each drug experience is unique and different
types of drugs will affect individuals in different ways at different times.
Organisation and implementation of college drug policy
Drugs education within the college is taught as part of the personal tutor study
programme.
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Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Confidentiality
Teachers cannot promise confidentiality to students. Where a student’s actions are
likely to place that student or others at moral or physical risk or in breach of the law,
the tutor will inform the Principal or Vice Principal who will, if appropriate, arrange
for the student to be counselled and the parents to be informed. Tutors must be
aware that holding on to information may compromise them at a later date.
Procedures
The following are recommended guidelines for specific drugs related incidents.
Each incident is unique and therefore the guidelines should be used as a reference
rather than a set of rules.
Change in a student’s behaviour
If a member of staff notices a change in a student’s behaviour, as follows:
 The change involves uncharacteristic behaviour of more than one week’s
duration
 The degree of the behavioural change is considered significant and negative
(withdrawal, appearance of ill-health, distraction, absenteeism, irrational mood
swings, etc)
They should initially speak with the student’s Personal Tutor, who is required to
inform the college Child Protection Officer. Any response will be carefully and
objectively recorded and placed in the student’s file. .
Reported Rumour
Rumours relating to drugs being taken by students during college time must be
reported to the VPP, who will investigate them and take appropriate steps
 By a fellow student
In this situation the first intention should be to speak with both the student reporting
the rumour and the student involved. From this point, further action clearly
depends on the responses of the students, but care should be taken not to make
accusations or reveal the source.
 By a parent, relating to their own child
The college will attempt to understand how much of the information given is fact
rather than speculation, but generally should recommend counselling and/or talking
to the Welfare Officer, who can offer support to the student and family, and if
necessary supply contact numbers for relevant groups and organisations.

By a parent, relating to another child
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Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Initially the college will establish where the parent received the information from.
Actions will be determined by the credibility of the allegation. The Welfare Officer
and Pastoral Head will decide whether to take further action (e.g. involve the
authorities, the accused student’s parents etc) as appropriate for each case.
Disclosure
If a student discloses information regarding drug use to a member of staff, the issue
of confidentiality should be clearly explained to the student: the staff member
cannot promise not to reveal the information. The Child Protection Officer will be
consulted immediately. Parental contact will be taken up, and this should be
explained to the student. The nature of the information disclosed will affect any
further action taken.
Drugs found on the premises
This must be reported to the Principal immediately.
Students and drugs on the premises
In cases of
 Student(s) found to be carrying drugs on the premises,
 Student(s) taking drugs on the premises,
 Student(s) dealing drugs on the premises,
The student(s) involved will be isolated with as little discussion as possible and the
following members of staff informed immediately: Vice Principal Pastoral and the
Principal.
 The student(s) has the right to request a specific member of staff to be present,
and a member of the management team must also be involved in all questioning.
 The student(s) will be encouraged to hand over any drugs they have in their
possession, but staff will not attempt to take the drugs off them.
 Any drugs handed over should be stored in the college safe, having been
carefully labelled with all relevant details and the label signed by two members of
staff and the student(s) involved.
 The staff involved will attempt to establish the facts of the incident and if there
are any further drugs in college.
 The parents will be contacted by the Pastoral Head, and called in to the college
wherever possible.
 Throughout this time the student(s) will remain isolated.
 Counselling and support will be the primary recommendation made to parents.
 Questions of exclusion and police involvement are dependent on the nature of
the incident, and will be carefully considered by the Vice Principal Pastoral and
Principal.
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Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
The college reserves the right to perform random bag checks during college hours if
it is suspected that drugs have been brought into the college
Code of good practice
From time to time questions may be raised by students which the Personal Tutor or
subject Teacher may have difficulty in addressing, due to its nature and content. The
staff member in question is not required to answer such questions immediately. In
such cases they are advised to defer a reply and consult the Pastoral Head or Welfare
Officer before taking further action. Teachers and tutors are urged to use their skill,
good sense and discretion in such situations. The recommended ground rules
involve the students being able to ask anything they wish as long as they respect the
right of both staff and other students not to answer questions if they do not wish to.
Screening for Drugs
All students should come to college ready to work and learn. For the vast majority of
students this is the prime objective. However, there are many pressures on young
people these days, particularly with respect to drugs. In recognition of this fact the
college reserves the right to insist that if a student is suspected of taking harmful
substances they should be subjected to a drugs test. If a student comes under
suspicion of taking drugs they may be screened at short notice. Should we feel that
such a course of action is necessary every effort will be made to inform parents and
guardians of our intentions. Our suspicions may be aroused for the following
reasons:
 Non-attendance
 Persistent lateness
 Unusual behaviour, as outlined above
 Lack of concentration
 Physical symptoms (tiredness; dilated pupils; skin pallor)
 It is deemed that the quality of a student’s work is well below their usual
standard.
In the event that evidence is found of drug-taking, action taken by the Pastoral Head
will include calling in the Police. Further appropriate actions will also be taken. As
an example, if a student is found to have consumed cannabis, he or she will be given
a final warning and, at the parents’ expense, regular drugs testing (approximately
£60 per test) will ensue. Attendance of a course of counselling may also be a
condition of continued college membership. Should any subsequent test prove
positive for cannabis the student will be dismissed. Students whose laboratory test
report indicates the presence of any other illegal drug(s) will be summarily
dismissed.
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Student Drug Policy 2014-15
Abbey College Cambridge
Any student under suspicion who refuses to be screened will be considered to be in
breach of the agreed policy regulations, and in consequence will be dismissed from
the college. Anyone found in possession of illegal substances on college premises or outside
the college and under the supervision of the college - for example on college trips - will be
dismissed.
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