SCHOOL IS STRICT ON CANNABIS

Four boys have been expelled from Hulme Grammar School, after an
investigation by the headmaster uncovered cannabis use among pupils.

Headmaster, Mr Ken Jones (above) today warned senior pupils in assembly
that drugs would not be tolerated at the top independent school.

The boys, all aged from 13 to 15 years, will not be returning to the
Chamber Road school, after Mr Jones spent a week investigating their
involvement in the illegal use of drugs.

He suspected that the cannabis may have been smoked at the school by one
the boys, after the discovery of three small quantities of the class B drugs.

Mr Jones handed the cannabis in to police, and suspended three boys last
week. One has now been reinstated, but the other two, and two more boys,
have been permanently excluded.

"It is now very clear to all of my pupils that they must never attempt to
bring such illegal items in to the school", Mr Jones said.

"No secondary school in the country can claim to be a drugs-free zone, but
the message is that Hulme Grammar School for Boys will deal very severely
with any involvement in drugs".

The cannabis was found in an operation by Mr Jones and two senior staff,
before Mr Jones spent a week investigating the problem. Although the
supplier of the drugs has not yet been discovered, police have confirmed
that they are now involved.

Mr Jones, who has been headmaster since September last year said: "As soon
as there was any indication that any boy may have brought an illegal drug
on the premises, I asked all members of staff to be particularly vigilant.

"Two of the Heads of Year followed up suspicious behaviour and that is how
the investigation started.".

The exclusion of the three boys has been supported by Mrs Rosemary
Brierley, chairman of the school governors, and Oldham Council's drugs
adviser, Kay Lord.