GONE TO POT

A GROUP of schoolchildren have been suspended after being caught smoking
cannabis during their lunch break.

Staff at Monkwearmouth School were tipped-off that students, believed to be
aged 15 and 16, had been taking drugs in nearby Seaburn dene.

One parent suggested up to 11 youngsters had been excluded after the
incident, but the school dismissed this, adding that disciplinary action
had been taken "against a small number of pupils."

School headteacher Phil Marshall said she had to balance punishment and
help for the youngsters who have all been hit with fixed-term exclusions.

She said they worked hard to make sure Monkwearmouth is "free from illegal
drugs".

Mrs Marshall added: "We are very strict. We do take incidents involving
drugs seriously, but we have to get the balance right between making sure
they know it is not acceptable and supporting the youngsters and their
families.

"As part of this, appropriate disciplinary action was taken against a small
number of pupils after an isolated incident outside the school last week,
but nothing on the scale suggested.

"Monkwearmouth School is a vital part of the community and values the
support of pupils and parents in maintaining excellent standards of behaviour.

"We have 1,485 pupils and almost all are a credit to themselves and their
families."

The youngsters were suspended last Monday, after the incident on Friday,
March 17.

The action comes as a survey revealed that one-in-five secondary school
children claimed to have been offered cannabis.

Former Monkwearmouth governor and Fulwell councillor, Norman Bohill, said:
"We have had the police down the dene and cemetery on a number of occasions.

"I have found drug paraphernalia there in the past, but I don't know
whether it is a serious problem or not. I know drinking has been in the
past and drinking and drugs tend to go together."

"I am grateful and pleased that the headteacher is taking a firm stand with
pupils.

"She clearly is an iron hand in a velvet glove. She's determined to put
things right and that has to be for the benefit of the school. She's not
one to go shouting from the rooftops, but the school is moving in the right
direction."

Inspector Alan Patterson, Sunderland North community inspector, said:
"These are places we regularly cover during our routine patrols and we are
aware young people go into the dene and the cemetery and there is some
low-level drug use. We will continue to monitor it and anyone found
committing any offences will be arrested."

Insp Patterson added: "We are working closely with the school in relation
to lunchtime problems in Sea Road. We have had officers in school to
address the issues with pupils and we have also had patrols with members of
staff."