Pubdate: Tue, 30 Aug 2005
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2005 BBC
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG TESTS HELP EXAM PASSES SOAR

The headteacher of a Kent school which introduced random drug testing
of pupils believes it contributed to an all-time high in GCSE pass
rates.

The Abbey School in Faversham, which began testing pupils at the
beginning of 2004, is believed to be the first in the UK to do so.

This year, 40% of pupils achieved five good GCSE passes, compared with
26% last year and 32% the year before.

Head Peter Walker said he now hoped to extend drug testing to more
pupils.

Mouth swabs

Mr Walker said the testing was one of a number of factors which had
given the school its best year ever.

"We have had a very stable staff, very high performing students who
have tried very hard, new building projects and morale is at an
all-time high," he said.

"I feel that the drug testing has helped people feel much
safer.

The school has seen a marked improvement in GCSE pass
rates

"It has had an effect on contributions in the classroom and on
behaviour - with far less disruption and that kind of thing," he said.

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

>From the spring term, 20 names each week have been selected by
computer to have mouth swabs taken.

The swabs are sent to a laboratory to be tested for cannabis, speed,
ecstasy, heroin and cocaine use.

Drug pushers

Out of 270 tests conducted so far, only one was positive. One pupil
refused to take the drug test because he admitted he was a cannabis
smoker and did not want to stop.

In both cases, the pupils were interviewed in the presence of their
parents and "appropriate" action taken.

Mr Walker told the BBC news website he would not expel pupils unless
they were drug pushers, which did not apply to either of these students.

He said he wanted to increase the percentage of pupils whose parents
and guardians had given permission for the testing.

So far, 14% had refused permission, which included children in the
care of Kent Social Services.

"I can understand that there could be fears about infringing human
rights, civil liberties and that kind of thing, but we have been very
careful about that," he said.

He said there had been an incredible amount of interest in the scheme
from schools elsewhere in the UK and around the world, but no other
school in Kent had made inquiries.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin