TOP SCHOOLS EXPEL THREE OVER DRUGS

Three boys have been expelled from two of the country's top schools after
being found in possession of drugs.

Two sixth-formers, aged 17 and 18, were excluded from Eton (fees £12,000 pa)
when a policeman caught them smoking cannabis in Windsor, less than a mile
from the school. They escaped with a caution, but were automatically
expelled because of the school's strict anti-drugs policy.

A third boy, named as Tom Wilson, the sixth-form son of a housemaster, was
withdrawn from Charterhouse (fees £13,500 pa), in Godalming, Surrey, after
an investigation by staff uncovered a "suspicious" substance in his room.
Two other boys, both aged 15, have been suspended.

The headmaster of Charterhouse, the Reverend John Witheridge, said: "Due to
the school's vigilance and the discovery of suspicious material in a boy's
room an internal investigation was carried out. As a result of the
investigation two boys in the second year have been suspended and a boy in
the first-year sixth has been withdrawn from the school." The two
15-year-olds would be allowed to return in the second week of next term but
Mr Witheridge said they would face random drug tests for the rest of their
time as pupils.

At Eton, one member of staff said: "It is a source of dismay to us all -
anything of this nature would be. But drug-taking is regarded extremely
seriously here." Tests are carried out on boys suspected of taking drugs,
with those who test positive being either expelled or suspended. A
spokeswoman for Windsor police said: "[The boys] were interviewed by
officers and offered a caution because of the small amount of drugs and the
fact it was a first offence. They were given a stiff talking to and
hopefully they will be discouraged."