Pubdate: Fri, 21 May 1999
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 1999 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Author: John O'leary, Education Editor

ETON CLAIMS SUCCESS IN DRUGS CRACKDOWN

Eton's tough line on drug use, which has resulted in seven expulsions in
four years, has succeeded in minimising drug-taking at the school, its
headmaster claimed yesterday.

A 15-year-old pupil was expelled this week after undercover police caught
him trying to buy UKP250 of cannabis in London. But John Lewis, Head Master
of Eton, said he would be surprised if drugs were widely available at the
school.

In an interview on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Lewis said the school made
it clear that expulsion was the automatic penalty for the use, possession or
sale of illegal drugs. "Parents support [the policy] and the curious thing
is, most boys support it too," he said.

Like other independent schools, Eton has introduced urine testing for boys
suspected of taking drugs, but Mr Lewis said that most tests were negative.
"I can think of a particular period between September and December when we
tested something like six boys in circumstances where we all thought,
frankly, there was a very strong chance they had been using, and they were
totally in the clear."

Mr Lewis said that the tests were used sparingly and with the knowledge of
parents. "We don't want to live in a climate of suspicion, as human beings
generally don't, so we do not test randomly unless we've got grounds for
suspicion."

Eton's high profile, with Prince William and Prince Harry among the 1,200
boys, has ensured that every drugs case has attracted headlines. This week's
expulsion was no exception, especially after last weekend's newspaper
accounts of Tom Parker Bowles, an old Etonian, using cocaine.

Mr Lewis said: "At any time, there are likely to be some boys who are
determined to beat the rules of the school and the laws of the land, and
there is a reasonable chance they may get away with it. We don't spend all
our waking hours thinking about drugs, but we do take it seriously." Drugs
offences accounted for all the school's expulsions in his first four years
in office, he said. 

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