SCHOOLCHILDREN FACE RANDOM DRUG TEST THREAT

Random drug testing could be introduced in all secondary schools to
help children resist peer pressure and "just say no" to drugs.

The first UK school to introduce random drug testing posted their
best ever exam results following a year-long pilot last year.

Now the Government has signalled it is keen for random drug testing
to be rolled out nationwide, depending on the success of a pilot
scheme they plan to introduce in Kent schools in autumn.

Headteachers and parents will be asked if they would like their
pupils to take part in the pilot.

Kent was chosen by the Department for Education and Skills for the
pilot because it was a local headteacher who first introduced it in
his school with astonishing results.

Peter Walker is the former headteacher of The Abbey School in
Faversham, Kent. It's a non-selective specialist school for business
and enterprise whose catchment area includes the second most
deprived council ward in the county. Last year 600 random drug tests
were carried out on pupils aged between 11 and 18.

Testing was done by mouth swabs for all classes of drugs, including
cannabis, cocaine and heroin. Of the school's 960 pupils, 86%
consented to be randomly tested. Only one child tested positive, for cannabis.

Mr Walker said: "We had our best set of exam results in the school's history.

"There's less disruption in the classroom, less incidents in the
playground or on the way to school.

"Children feel that they are far better protected.

"The biggest reason for taking drugs is peer group pressure. It
looks like we may well have found a way for children to have a
viable way of saying no to their peer group."

Mr Walker was immediately appointed as the UK Government's
ambassador for random drug testing since retiring as headteacher two
months ago.

He is producing guidelines for other schools to follow and has met
with US drug czar John Walters to explain how a grassroots approach
to tackling drugs works.

Mr Walker said: "What you need to have with a scheme like this is a
good support programme. It's not about catching people out it's
about helping people get off drugs.

"It's about time all schools came out and accepted that there is
this problem that we need to address. Anybody who says they don't
have a drug problem in their school isn't telling the truth. If we
were all transparent that would be a good way of dealing with it."

The Government will commission research based on the forthcoming
Kent pilot to establish whether there is a direct link between
random testing and behaviour, attendance and academic achievement.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Mr Walker's drive and
commitment is impressive. A key factor was peer pressure by the kids
against taking drugs.

"I am determined schools should have all the support they need to
tackle this issue."