Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jan 2005
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2005 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558

SCHOOL STARTS RANDOM DRUG TESTING

Mr Walker Says 85% Of Parents Have Given Permission For Testing

Pupils returning to a Kent school for the new term will be subject to 
random drug tests for the first time.

In what is thought to be the first such scheme in a state school, pupils at 
The Abbey School in Faversham will have mouth swabs taken to detect drug use.

 From Wednesday, 20 names each week will be selected by computer and the 
swabs sent off to a drug testing laboratory.

So far, 85% of parents have given permission for children to be tested, 
according to head teacher Peter Walker.

He said previous government attempts to prevent people taking drugs were 
not working and "something else" had to be tried.

He said children were looking for an excuse to say no to drugs, against 
peer pressure, and the scheme would give them that excuse.

"One of the difficulties we have got in our society is that the government 
has tried so hard and so much to try to improve levels of prevention, yet 
we are not meeting with enough success," Mr Walker said.

The mixed, non-selective school takes pupils aged from 11 to 19.

Assess Support

Those selected each week will report to the sick room for testing by 
specially-trained non-teaching staff.

Results will be available three days later.

Mr Walker said that no child would be tested against his or her wishes.

"If a child says no to being tested we will call the parents into the 
school and discuss it, " he said.

"It might indicate that the child has been taking some stuff and doesn't 
want to be found out.

"We will then assess what support they need."

The tests will detect cannabis, speed, ecstasy, heroin and cocaine.

A summary of the school's findings will be released every four to six weeks 
and parents will be informed of their own children's results.

Pupils at The Abbey School will be tested from the new term.

Children who test positive will not be expelled but those found dealing 
will be and the police will be called in.

"It's not a question of punishment, it's a question of support. We will 
decide whether they need counselling, police support or healthcare," said 
Mr Walker.

"We do not have a bigger drugs problem than any other school," he said.

"There's a chance we have even less of a problem because we are so pro-active."

Paul Carter, Kent County Council cabinet member for education, said he 
supported Mr Walker.

"It's very brave of the school. I wish them luck," he said.

"Random drug testing is fraught with legal problems so we are issuing the 
school with helpful guidance.

"I believe the tests will be a strong deterrent to youngsters dabbling in 
drugs."
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MAP posted-by: Beth