TORIES WILL GIVE SCHOOLS DRUGS 'ZERO TOLERANCE'

Schools will have the right to expel automatically drug-using pupils
under "zero tolerance" proposals to be announced by the
Conservatives.

They would abolish Government rules that give minor offenders second
or third chances, Theresa May, the Tory education spokesman will say
this week. She will also promise more forthright anti-drugs teaching
which will impress upon children that drugs are illegal and wrong,
rather than seeking to explain the consequences of abuse and how to
handle them.

Mrs May has drawn up the hardline policy because of concern that
existing Government policies are making the drugs problem worse. She
said: "There should be no place for drugs in schools, but pupils are
receiving some mixed messages from the Government. It says to heads
that they shouldn't really exclude. But if young people see that
nothing much happens if they are taking drugs or are caught with
cannabis or something, it gives the impression that it's an OK thing
to do."

There were similar failings in anti-drugs lessons, said Mrs May. "They
need to make clear there are problems for the individual if they take
drugs."

Nigel de Gruchy, the general secretary of the NAS/UWT teaching union,
said: "This sounds like an excellent idea, provided there are places
provided to deal with the excluded pupils. The current rules make
dealing with the drugs problem more difficult, so we would welcome
this change."

A Home Office study last year showed that a quarter of schoolchildren
had tried drugs by the age of 13, rising to more than 50 per cent by
15.

The Department for Education said schools were free to suspend or
expel pupils caught supplying drugs after a first offence. They were,
however, expected to take a "more considered" approach with pupils who
simply used drugs themselves.

"Expelling children can often be harmful and prevent drug abuse from
being tackled," said a spokesman. "The Government is convinced that
its approach is effective."