SHOCK TACTICS FOR SCHOOL DRUG LESSONS

Schools are to be encouraged to make greater use of shock tactics in
anti-drugs lessons.

And new government guidance will give head teachers firm backing to exclude
any pupil caught dealing drugs on school premises - even if it is a first
offence.

Exclusion appeals panels will be urged not to overturn a head teachers'
decision to expel such pupils.

As part of the tough new approach, a video about the death of heroin addict
Rachel Whitear is to be made available to all schools in England.

The 21-year-old student died in rented accommodation of an overdose in May
2000.

Her parents, Mick and Pauline Holcroft, hit the headlines in March when
they decided to release graphic pictures of Rachel's death to warn
teenagers of the dangers of the drug.

But drugs education experts said using such shock tactics were unlikely to
make a difference.

Pragmatic Approach

Vivienne Evans, head of education and prevention at the group Drugscope,
expressed reservations about a "shock" approach to drugs education.

"The government should continue what has until now been its pragmatic and
constructive approach to drugs education, basing its information on fact,
not on shock tactics and a 'just say no' approach."

Mr and Mrs Holcroft will meet the minister responsible for young people and
learning, Ivan Lewis at the Department for Education on Tuesday, ahead of a
summit on how schools can tackle drugs and alcohol misuse.

The seminar will seek the views of head teachers and drug agencies.

Government policy says all secondary schools and 80% of primary schools
must have a drugs education policy in place by 2003.

The Department for Education also wants schools to put more emphasis on the
moral issues surrounding drug taking.

Lessons Inspections

The department is believed to be in contact with the Teacher Training
Agency to ensure prospective teachers are given the necessary preparation
to deliver the anti-drugs message effectively.

And it wants to see the school standards watchdog, Ofsted, inspecting drugs
education lessons.

General secretary of the Secondary Heads Association John Dunford welcomed
the tougher stance over drugs dealers in schools.

There had been too many cases where a head teacher's decision to expel
drugs sellers had been undermined by appeals panels, Mr Dunford said.

"Head teachers need to have the sanctions available to make schools
drugs-free zones," he said.

"The only sensible policy towards drugs selling is zero-tolerance.

"What heads want - and are getting with this changing climate - is the
flexibility to deal with offenders as they see fit.

"Parents have a right to expect that their child will not be exposed to
drugs or drugs sellers during school hours," he said.