SUSPENDED FARRER STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL TODAY

AT least 15 of the 20 students suspended last month from Farrer
Memorial Agriculture High School for allegedly smoking cannabis on
the school's grounds will return to classes today.

Police will speak with the students from Years 9 to 11 once they
return to the school this week where official cautions will be handed
out.

The mass suspension occurred on the Wednesday before the Easter
school holidays after some boarders admitted to using the prohibited
drug on the grounds over a two-week period.

A number of day students informed staff about other students using
the cannabis in the grounds, which prompted the action taken by the
school to suspend the students.

Parents from outlying areas, some as far away as Gilgandra, Lightning
Ridge, Wee Waa and Gunnedah, were forced to travel to Tamworth to
pick up their suspended sons.

A Department of Education and Training spokesman said yesterday no
student has been expelled over the incident.

Some of the students remain suspended and will return to the school
over the coming weeks.

The marijuana was taken onto the school grounds and not cultivated on
the premises.