Pupils caught with drugs

A SHOCKED parent has hit out at Saddleworth School accusing them of trying to cover up the fact that two Year 7 pupils were caught with drugs.

The worried mum has expressed her disappointment that parents were not informed that the pupils, thought to be 12 years old, had been caught with cannabis.

The woman, who did not want to be named, instead found out from her son when he came home from school.

She said: “He told me two boys had been caught with cannabis.

“Drugs are part of our society and it is not the school’s fault that the pupils have taken them in, but they should have handled it better.”

However, head teacher Patricia Cornish said: “Individual disciplinary matters are confidential and we do not make public comment on them.

“However, it is important to reiterate that drugs are not tolerated in the school. We have a very clear and firm stance against the use and supply of illegal substances.

“Any alleged contravention of this is always taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. When appropriate, we also liaise with the police.”

But the concerned mother insists that pupils’ parents should have been told, adding: “Parents should have been informed in either a letter or through the website, just to put people’s minds at rest as to what action has been taken.

“Children will talk and a few parents have said things to me, it worries people and having had no word from the school people start to gossip.

“It’s as if they have tried to keep it in-house.”

It is understood that both boys were suspended.

Last year two boys were permanently excluded for dealing cannabis, while others were excluded after being caught in possession of the Class B drug.

Brian Lord, who is chairman of governors at the school, confirmed that a hearing has been arranged to discuss the case.

He said: “It’s very simple, if a pupil is caught selling drugs they will get expelled, people who are caught with them will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

“The majority of parents are delighted we stand firm on drugs because they destroy families.

“The school will have notified the people involved, it is not for us to be telling other parents of matters going on in other families, that would not be appropriate.

“Parents would go mad if their child was treated that way.

“The rumour mill doesn’t help.

“The policy is made very clear to every child, and they know if they are caught selling drugs they are leavers.”

Cannabis was reclassified from a Grade C to B drug in January, 2009, and a young person caught in possession will be arrested and warned, with criminal charges following a third offence.