Latest Notices:

Policy on substance and alcohol use and misuse

Aims

The school does not condone the use of illegal drugs or the misuse of legal ones by members of the school. The school is committed to providing an environment where students will be sheltered from such influences and will take action to safeguard their well being.
In line with the overall aims of the school to produce students who are self-confident, self-disciplined and able to fulfil responsible roles in society, we have a duty to inform and educate the students about the consequences of drug use and misuse.

The school acknowledges that some young people do use and misuse drugs, others will choose not to. The pastoral system in the school will try to support all students, and through the general ethos of the school, encourage those in need of help, to come forward.

Objectives

Specifically the school provides:-

A PSHE programme which:

     Gives accurate information about substances;
     Increases understanding about the implication and potential consequences of use and misuse;
     Enables students to make healthy and informed choices about lifestyles;
     Raises awareness of related health and social issues;
     Seeks to minimise risks that users or potential users face;
     Makes the students aware of where they can go for appropriate help.
     An environment where, especially younger students are safe from illegal substances.

The school attempts to fulfil the above objectives by:-

      Working closely with outside agencies;
     Working closely with parents and providing Drug Awareness evenings for parents and students. The school would always, under normal circumstances, share with parents, information relating to their sons and illegal substances or alcohol;
     Being vigilant in monitoring signs of substance use and misuse and keeping awareness high among the staff through INSET.


Disciplinary Response to Drug-Related Incidents

Information relating to the use and mis-use of substances may come to staff in a variety of ways:

     One boy or students may share information about others;
     A pupil may make a disclosure about himself;
     Something in a boy's behaviour might alert staff.

The School will always treat seriously any incident involving the use or mis-use of substances.

Under normal circumstances, the School would always keep parents informed about incidents which have occurred at school and about activities which might be taking place outside, but which have come to our attention.

The Headteacher retains responsibility for deciding how to respond to particular incidents. Each case will be dealt with individually, taking into account factors such as the age of a boy; whether it was one boy or a group; whether the boy had been put under pressure; and the safety and well-being of other students. The School will respond to incidents in a variety of ways depending on the seriousness and frequency of offence.