PUPILS EXPELLED FOR MAKING DRUGS

FOUR pupils from a leading Scottish independent school have been expelled
after trying to manufacture a form of the drug ecstasy on school premises,
The Scotsman can reveal.

The incident, involving a group of 17-year-old boarders from Glenalmond
College in Perthshire, came to light after they fell ill after taking the
substance on Saturday evening.

A school spokesman said the individuals, who have not been named, were
taken to Perth Royal Infirmary, but were released on Sunday. Although the
police have not been informed, an investigation by school staff found the
boys had made the ecstasy-like substance by following a do-it-yourself
recipe downloaded from the internet.

Jeremy Poulter, registrar of the UKP 3,195-per-term school, said staff and
pupils had been extremely shocked by the incident.

He said: "I can confirm that four 17-year-old boys were admitted to Perth
Royal Infirmary on Saturday evening. Our first concern was obviously for
the boys' health and mercifully they are all safe and well and will suffer
no long-term consequences. Teenage boys will be tempted to experiment and
it is a cause of great concern that such information should be peddled on
the internet.

"However, we have a clear policy on drugs and none of the boys will be
returning to school."

Glenalmond, founded in 1841, has a number of famous old boys including
former Scottish rugby captains David Sole and Rob Wainwright. Sandy Gall,
the TV newscaster, also attended the school.