Drug Education News

The BBC report on new plans to introduce random drug testing in schools:

Random drug testing of pupils is being introduced in secondary schools across Kent following the success of a pilot scheme in the county.

The Department for Education and Skills said it would evaluate the impact of the scheme, which is being implemented by Kent County Council (KCC). [more]

The story implies that secondary schools in Kent have yet to sign up to the scheme and that the government are paying for it to take place.

The Guardian have more:

A DfES spokesperson said: “This is about providing schools who want to look at this approach with the best possible information and guidance rather than forcing them to do it.

“As we have made clear throughout, the decision to adopt this approach will be one for heads in consultation with parents.”

The 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.”

The Times have spoken to Martin Ward, deputy general-secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (a Drug Education Forum member) who said that at present it wasn’t popular because of the fears of infringing human rights and jeopardising relations between pupils and staff:

“I suspect many more will take it up happily enough if they’re part of a general trend, but I’m sure a number will be reluctant to do so,” he said.

“It’s not something many school leaders want to adopt because clearly to some degree there’s an infringement of privacy and it does tend to change relations between the school and pupils to a degree.”

The paper also says:

The DFES said it hoped that research alongside the Kent pilot would establish
whether there was a direct link between random testing and behaviour, attendance
and academic achievement. However, it emphasised that random drug-testing would not be mandatory and it would be up to every individual head teacher to adopt it “if they feel it’s right for them”. [more]

The Daily Mail and ITV also cover the story.