Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
DRUGS
The definition of a drug given by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is –
A substance people take to change the way they feel, think or behave.
The purpose of this policy is to –
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Clarify the legal requirements and responsibilities of the school.
Clarify the school’s approach to drugs for all staff, pupils, governors, parents/carers,
external agencies, and the wider community.
Give guidance on developing, implementing and monitoring the drug education programme.
Enable staff to manage drugs effectively and to respond efficiently to incidents involving
drugs.
Rationale
Drugs education is an important part of the PSHE curriculum. Substance and drugs misuse
extends across socio-economic and ethnic boundaries and pupils of all abilities are at risk. The
National Curriculum (Science programme of study and the guidance for PSHE and Citizenship)
states that by the end of Key Stage 2, pupils should –
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Be made aware of the risks of drugs and substance abuse.
Have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to resist drugs and substance misuse.
As a school we should therefore –
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Ensure that all children understand that illegal and other unauthorised drugs are not
acceptable within the school community.
(By ‘Drugs’ we mean all legal drugs including over-the-counter and prescribed medicines,
tobacco, alcohol, cleaning solvents and substances; and all illegal drugs as mentioned in
the Misuse of Drugs 1971.
Take a protective stance in partnership with parents, outside agencies and the whole
school community on these issues.
Manage drugs on school premises and off-site activities effectively.
Know how to deal effectively with drug/alcohol related incidents, send home
parent/carer or member of staff if unfit and ensure safety of children first. Don’t let
children go with parent/carer if unsure of safety.
Policy Documents
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
Drug Education
At St. Johns, we believe that all children should lead a healthy, happy life. They should be made
aware of the risks and dangers that they face so that they can make informed choices later in
life.
Aims
 To raise awareness of the risks of drugs.
 To enable children to make healthy informed choices.
Objectives
 To increase pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the risks of taking drugs.
 To develop pupils’ personal and social skills to make informed choices
 To enable pupils to explore their own and other peoples’ attitudes towards drugs, drug
use and drug users.
Teaching and learning
Knowledge
Pupils should be taught –
 Household products, including prescribed and over-the-counter medicines can be harmful
if not used properly.
 Which commonly available substances and drugs are legal and illegal, their effects and
risks.
Life Skills and attitudes
Pupils should be taught –
 to recognise their worth as individuals by identifying positive things about themselves
and their achievements, seeing their mistakes, making amends and setting personal goals
 to recognise the different risks in different situations and then decide how to behave
responsibly
 to be able to deal with peer group pressure
 that pressure to behave in an unacceptable or risky way can come from a variety of
sources, including people they know
 to know how to ask for help and use basic techniques for resisting pressure to do wrong.
 that their actions affect themselves and others
 to care about other peoples feelings and to try to see things from their point of view
 to take responsibility, become assertive and make decisions.
Curriculum Organisation
In teaching drugs education, a range of strategies should be employed including role-play,
outside speakers, discussion group work and circle time. The use of circle time can be a key
strategy for developing life skills. In the circle, the teacher acts as facilitator, giving
information and guiding children. Pupils who are regarded ‘most at risk’ can often be helped
using this strategy.
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
The intention should not be to teach about the physiological effects of drugs, nor to
sensationalise drugs, but to provide a clear message that substance abuse and illegal drugs can
be dangerous. Life-skills development is the key to helping pupils become informed decision
makers.
Scheme of Work
Hampshire County Council have provided a detailed Drugs Education Planning document for Key
Stage 2. Lesson plans are available to link to PSHE and Science lessons.
S.E.N.
Whilst some pupils may have a fairly broad knowledge and insight into the world of drugs, there
will be those who will have little or no knowledge at all. Teachers need to be sensitive to this
issue and lessons should be planned to take account of the pupils’ age, experience or maturity.
Use of Visitors
Quality Drugs education involves partnership with other agencies, such as
 School Nursing service
 Voluntary Organisations
 Educational Theatre (T.I.E.)
 Drugs Prevention Officers
 Community Police.
Where visitors are used to support and extend classroom teaching, they should be used to
complement the school’s programme of work for drugs education. In particular, a teacher
should always be present and retain overall responsibility in the classroom.
Staff Issues
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The Headteacher has overall responsibility for drug issues within the school.
All staff in school, including newly qualified and support staff should have a general drug
awareness and an understanding of the drugs and other related policies.
Any CPD on drug related issues undertaken should be disseminated to all staff. Staff
should then be encouraged to evaluate its impact on teaching and learning.
A good teacher of drugs education does not need to be an authority on drugs. It is the lifeskills aspect which is crucial to this area of the curriculum.
Policy Documents
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
Management of Drugs in School
Prescribed Medicines
Some pupils may require medicines during the school day and the following guidance should be
followed.
 Staffing - -managing medicines is not part of a teacher’s duties: appointed administration
staff have this responsibility.
 Administration — medicines must only be administered in accordance with the prescriber’s
instructions as displayed on the packaging
 Self-management — pupils have direct access to their essential medicines such as inhalers
and epi-pens for emergency use.
 Parents should ensure that epi-pens and inhalers are current, clearly labelled with the
child’s name and correct dosage
 Storage — some medicines are readily available in the child’s year group, whilst others are
stored in the medical room, locked in a cupboard, or in extreme circumstances kept in the
fridge.
 Record - keeping - a record book is kept in the medical room of medicines that are
administered
Non-prescribed Medicines
In accordance with county guidelines, non-prescribed medicines will only be given in the
following circumstances.
 For relief from hay fever and period pains
 When a GP insists that prescribed antibiotics cannot be administered before school, after
school and at bedtime, and therefore a dosage is required midday.
 On a residential visit or school outing where parents' permission is received.
 Any other exceptional circumstances
It is advised that staff do not give non-prescribed medicines to pupils
Staff medication
Any staff medication will be either locked in the medical room, or left in their car until it is
required.
Alcohol
If alcohol is at school due to a celebration or for a parent-teacher meeting it will be locked in a
cupboard.
Alcohol will not be sold without a licence (Licensing Act 1964), though no license is required if
alcohol is offered and no sale takes place.
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
Hazardous substances
Such substances are clearly labelled and stored in locked cupboards, which are not accessible to
children.
Protective clothing is to be worn when such substances are used.
(See Health and Safety Policy)
Drugs legal and illegal
See following policy on responding to drug related incidents.
Responding to Drug-related Incidents
Some schools in the past have found a substance or drugs on the premises, and in a few cases, a
pupil has been found in possession of a drug. Such an incident may have implications for the
school, the pupil, parents, teachers, head teacher and the governing body.
Drug related incidents are likely to involve suspicions, observations, disclosures or discoveries
of situations involving illegal and other authorised drugs. e.g.
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drugs or associated paraphernalia found on school premises
a pupil demonstrates, perhaps through actions or play, an inappropriate level of
knowledge of drugs for their age
a pupil is found in possession of drugs or associated paraphernalia.
a pupil is found to be supplying drugs on school premises
a pupil, parent/carer or staff member is thought to be under the influence of drugs
a staff member has information that the illegitimate sale or supply of drugs is taking
place in the local area
a pupil discloses that they or a family member/friend are misusing drugs.
If a pupil is found with a substance or drug thought to be illegal, these procedures should be
followed
Procedure for handling a drug related incident –
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All unknown tablets, powders and substance should be regarded as possibly illegal
All teachers have a duty of care, and want to protect the child. It should be noted that
the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act allows adults to remove unknown substances or drugs from
a young person in order that he/she can be protected.
The substance or drug should then be handed to the Headteacher who is responsible for
sealing it in a clear plastic bag and locked away until the police arrive.
Where possible the drug should be removed from the child in the presence of a witness.
If there is reasonable evidence that a child has taken a drug, a trained first-aider should
be called immediately, and professional medical help sought.
Policy Documents
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
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The member of staff should then write a brief statement indicating the date, time, place
and circumstances in which the incident took place. The witness should counter-sign the
statement.
The substance should be sealed in a clear plastic bag and locked away until the police
arrive
Where it is considered that the pupil has been at risk, or it is thought that the drug or
substance is illegal, the pupil’s parent or caring adult should immediately be asked to
attend the school
The Chair of Governors should be involved if the incident is drugs related.
Contact should also be made to the County Press Office for guidance if it looks as if the
media may become involved.
If necessary a search of trays, lockers and personal property can be undertaken.
If a further search is required, pupils’ privacy should be respected. Pupils about which
there is concern can be asked to empty their pockets and bags: most pupils will comply
with such a request.
Where a pupil is uncooperative, a search will need to be carried out in the presence of a
parent, caring adult or youth crime reduction officer.
It should be stressed that teachers are not able to guarantee confidentiality and that
any information received will be passed on immediately to the appropriate person.
Therefore it is preferable that before any disclosure takes place, a teacher should
sensitively indicate that confidentiality cannot be maintained.
The school should then make a full record of the incident. This record, including notes of
any discussions with pupils, may be used in subsequent court proceedings.
Schools should aim to develop a range of responses to drug incidents. Any response should
balance the needs of the individual against those of the wider community and should be
determined after a full and careful investigation.
Reviewed
October 2014
Next Review
November 2016
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