HEADS IN CLASH WITH MINISTER ON DRUGS

HEAD teachers yesterday criticised the Government's call for leniency over
pupils caught with drugs as Estelle Morris, the Schools Minister, defended
her advice not to adopt a "zero tolerance" approach.

Ms Morris, who on Monday told the Girls' Schools Association that
possession of drugs should not automatically lead to exclusion, caused
disquiet among some heads who felt that she had created a conflicting
message for pupils.

King Edward VI Camp Hill boys' school in Birmingham, one of the country's
top grant-maintained grammars, has had two or three drug-related incidents
with expulsions in the past ten years. Mervyn Brooker, the head teacher,
said: "At this school there is a very hard line. My governors expect a hard
line.

"I am concerned about what Estelle Morris is saying. Heads need discretion
on particular circumstances, but I certainly wouldn't want the Government
to tie my hands and say, 'You can't exclude.' We take the view that, by and
large, students know what they are doing and have to accept the consequences."

Harrow School operates a zero-tolerance policy and several drug incidents
in the past three years have resulted in expulsion. Nicholas Bomford, the
Head Master, said: "Our standard policy is that, if any boy is found to be
in possession of unauthorised drugs or to have used them during term time,
he must expect to be required to leave." Ms Morris was criticised by David
Willetts, the Shadow Education Secretary, for "undercutting the position"
of head teachers.

Downing Street defended Ms Morris's remarks. The Prime Minister's spokesman
said: "She was saying that the Government has a very tough approach to
drugs, not just in schools but at all levels of society, but was making the
obvious point that head teachers have to be allowed some flexibility and
that she would support them over the decisions they have to take."

Although few schools practise zero tolerance, they are universally strict
on drug dealing. Heads fiercely maintain the right to set their own
anti-drugs policies. St Bede's College, a Roman Catholic independent in
Manchester, has had two fifth-form boys expelled and 18 suspended for drugs
in three years. John Byrne, the Headmaster, said: "The boys were expelled
because they brought drugs into the school and sold them.

"At the same time, we gave a 24-hour amnesty for people who had been
tempted to purchase or try out cannabis and those people were suspended but
not expelled. I reserve the right to expel pupils for drugs, but I wouldn't
wish to tie myself down to do it every time."

Gordonstoun School said that not every drugs incident resulted in
expulsion. "There have been temporary suspensions," said Richard Oliver,
its development director."We would regard each offence individually. Anyone
dealing in hard drugs would almost certainly be asked to leave."

Ramsgate School, in Kent, which is fighting its way up from the bottom of
the GCSE league tables, has had one drugs incident in the past three years
but did not expel. Brian Lippitt, the Headmaster, said: "We operate a
policy which is sympathetic to what Estelle Morris is doing. If we were to
find a child with a small amount of cannabis and there was no evidence that
the child had been selling or encouraging other youngsters to use, then the
child would be handed to the youth services for help and advice. He may
well have a short-term exclusion but not a permanent one."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski