SCHOOL MUST REINSTATE BOYS EXPELLED FOR DRUG-DEALING

A headmaster who expelled two boys for dealing drugs in his school has been
ordered by the local education authority to allow them back.

Neil Brett, the head of St Edmund's Roman Catholic School, Southsea, Hants,
was told that an independent review panel had decided that the sanction was
too harsh.

The two boys were excluded from the school in December after they admitted
selling cannabis to fellow pupils in the school lavatories. A third boy was
suspended for smoking the drug.

Portsmouth city council told the review panel that it did not support the
children's exclusion and Mr Brett accused them of being "soft" on drugs.

He said yesterday: "I find it disconcerting that the local education
authority expects me to take these boys back and doesn't expect anything to
do with cannabis to result in an expulsion.

"I feel let down. Dealing in drugs is a very serious matter. I don't want
my teachers to have to put up with pupils who spend their lunchtimes
dealing in drugs.

"Mr Brett said that the return of the pupils had sent a "very bad signal"
about drugs and undermined his authority in the school.

He added that staff at the 900-pupil school were upset by the decision and
may refuse to teach the boys when they return. He plans to have them taught
in isolation.

Andy Hough, head of pupil services at Portsmouth city council, defended the
authority's stance.

He said: "Substance misuse in schools is an issue we take very seriously
indeed. In certain circumstances the ultimate sanction of permanent
exclusion may be appropriate but it is important that all cases are
considered on their merits.

"We fully appreciate the levels of concern the head teacher, parents and
others have in connection with drug-related issues and we all need to work
together to address this problem."