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Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES)
Title: Policy on Drugs in Schools
Date: August 2021
1. Overview
Drugs education plays a key role in equipping children with the necessary skills, understanding
and knowledge to move confidently into adult life. All within CYPES have a responsibility to inform
out children and young people of the facts in a sensitive style that will engage and support them,
using recognised and evidence-based teaching strategies.
Society as a whole is concerned about the effects of drug misuse. The misuse of drugs within any
CYPES premises will not be tolerated. Our schools are no smoking areas (Restriction on smoking
law (Workplaces) (Jersey) Regulations 2006)
Some of our children and young people need a variety of medicines and appropriate arrangements
will be made to enable the correct distribution of these. (Administration of Medicines in Schools
2021)
This drugs policy is part of an overall approach to health and well-being in CYPES provided and
non-provided schools and colleges
2. United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
This policy is written in line with the UNCRC particularly supporting the underlying principles
of articles 2, 3, 6 and 12. In addition to this, articles 28 and 29 are prevalent in supporting the
education of children as well as article 24 with access to appropriate health care.
CYPES is committed to supporting children’s rights in all schools across Jersey.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all CYPES provided and non-provided schools and colleges.
4. Responsibilities and Distribution
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All CYPES provided and non-provided schools and colleges will have a drugs policy which is
aligned to this CYPES Drugs Policy and which covers the content and organisation of drugs
education and the management of drug incidents.
This document outlines the overarching CYPES Drugs Policy and also contains guidance for
schools and colleges in formulating and reviewing their own policy.
This document sets out to fulfil two purposes:
I. To state the guiding principles behind the
i. Aim and Content of Drugs Education
ii. Management of Drug Incidents in CYPES Schools and Colleges
II. To set out the guidelines for schools and colleges writing of reviewing their own drug
policy.
5. Policy Aims
This Drugs Policy is part of the overall approach to health and well-being adopted by CYPES in
relation to its work with children and young people and aims to:
• Increase students’ knowledge and understanding about drugs, the dangers associated
with the misuse of drugs and to clarify their misconceptions
• Develop students’ personal and social skills to enable them to make informed
decisions and keep themselves safe and healthy
• Enable students to explore their own and other people’s attitude towards drugs, drug
use and drug users
• Ensure the safety or staff and students when on school site or when on any school
trip or visit, residential or otherwise
• Take a firm stance against illegal drugs
• Provide an agreed CYPES approach to issues of healthy lifestyle
• Alert children and young people to the ways of seeking additional help and support
where necessary
This policy defines drugs as ‘a substance people take to change the way they feel, think or
behave’ (UN Office on Drugs and Crime).
This definition includes all illegal and legal drugs including alcohol, tobacco and medicines.
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1a Aim and Content of Drugs Education
Drugs education is a major component of drug prevention. Drug prevention aims to:
• Minimise the number of young people engaging in drug use
• Delay the age of onset of first use
• Reduce the harm caused by drugs
• Enable those who have concerns about drugs to seek help.
Planning and Teaching of Drug Education
Drug education is provided through Curriculum subjects such as science, drama and PSHE, visits from
outside agencies, and other related curriculum areas as part of ha student’s preparation for adult life.
This information should be age appropriate and include an assessment process for pupils and a
monitoring and evaluation process to measure teaching and effectiveness of the programme. It
should:
• Be delivered in the context of the school as port of the community.
• Take account of age, sex, ethnic/cultural/social background of the students at whom it is
targeted.
• Provide factual and accurate information backed up with consistent advice.
• Aim to teach the students the necessary personal and social skills to address the aims stated
above.
• Have realistic aims and be consistent with the school’s values and ethos.
• Include an assessment process for pupils and a monitoring and evaluation process to measure
learning and effectiveness.
• Be consistent with the school’s policy and practice for managing drug-related incidents.
In addition:
• Schools will ensure that all staff delivering drug education courses are appropriately trained.
• The school should use current information from the latest Health Related Study to inform
appropriate drug education to target identified areas of risk (available from the Public Health
Department)
All schools need to set realistic aims for their drug education which include the above and which are
consistent with the values of the school and the laws of society , as well as appropriate to the age of
the pupils. Schools should ensure that visitors’ teaching expertise is sound and that their contribution
is consistent with the school’s values and approach to drug education.
Drug Education in the Curriculum
This topic is covered in many different subject areas such as:
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Science
A copy of the school’s science curriculum can be obtained from the school. This will outline the
different topic areas covered by each Key Stage of the curriculum.
PSHE and Citizenship
All schools should make provision for drugs education withing their personal, social, health and
economic education programme (PSHE). The PSHE Association provide a Programme of Study based
on best practice and incorporating Drugs Education and can be accessed through the link
Programme of Study for PSHE Education (key stages 1–5) | www.pshe-association.org.uk
The Jersey Healthy Schools Standard Supports a whole school Approach to a PSHE In-service Training
Programme with support from the Public Health Department.
Parent(s)/Carer(s) Role
Useful information for parents can be found at :
Young people's drug use - advice for parents (gov.je)
Parent(s)/Carer(s) have an important role to play in supporting their child’s drug education. Young
people are more likely to delay or avoid trug misuse when
• Family bonds are strong.
• There are strong parental monitoring and clear family values.
• There is open dialogue between parent and child.
Parent(s)/Carer(s) should be:
• Made aware of the school’s approach and rationale for drug education.
• Involved in the planning and review of the drug education programme and policy.
• Given information about their child’s drug education and rules in relation to drugs.
• Made aware of help available to them through local and national sources.
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1B Management of Drugs Incidents in Provided Schools(should this include non-provided as
well) and Colleges
The Possessions, use and supply of illegal drugs and other unauthorised drugs within CYPES premises
and/or boundaries is unacceptable.
In dealing with drug related incidents CYPES staffs’ primary concern will be the health and safety of
those involved and of the community as a whole. Often drugs related incidents can be placed into
one of the three broad categories:
I. Rumours of use or dealing on or off the premises
II. Actual use or dealing on or off the premises (this may require a first aid response)
III. Disclosures of own or others use from a student or parent and requests for help and support
Responses to these incidents will very form the punitive to the pastoral. Consider how these incidents
might be handled in your school. The flow chart on Managing Drugs Incidents can be used to
determine interventions and/or strategies following such incidents.
Based on section 4 from Drugs: advice for schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The following CYPES policies are linked to this Drugs Policy:
• Safeguarding Policies
• Police involvement on CYPES premises
• Administration of Medicines in Schools
• Developing a smokefree workplace policy
• Critical Incident Management Plan Guidance
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Drugs or drug
paraphernalia
found on
school
premises
Pupil discloses
use or
involvement
with drugs or
substances
Allegation or
suspicion of
pupil/carer/
staff of drug
use
School knows or
suspects pupil or
carer under the
influence of
drugs
Parent/Carer
seeks support
from school
about drugs
School becomes
aware of alleged
supply or
availability of
drugs at school
PRIORITY
Is medical attention required?
Take possession or
confiscate in the
presence of a witness,
Health and Safety: TAKE
CARE WITH SHAPRS
MAKE AREA SAFE
Inform Headteacher and Designated
Safeguarding Lead who will follow
process, consulting as appropriate
and recording decisions made
Issues:
Consult CYPES safeguarding
policy and school drugs
policy
Consult Outside agencies if
appropriate: Police, Child and
Family Hub
Appropriate sanctions,
interventions, and pupil
support programmes
Community impact and
possible media interest
If substance is LEGAL but not
authorised e.g. alcohol,
solvents, psychoactive
substances, tobacco. Use the
school policy in deciding
action contacting
parents/carers/outside
agencies as appropraite
If the substance is
thought to be ILLEGAL.
Report and Liaise with
Police through Child and
Family Hub
Critical Incident Plan
Points
1. All schools should have a drugs policy which is periodically reviewed and assessed and consistent
with the school’s safeguarding policy. A senior member of staff who is responsible for the school
drugs policy should liaise with the police and agree a shared approach to dealing with drug
related incidents.
2. Drugs Education should be integrated across the whole school curriculum appropriate to age
group.
3. A teacher can confiscate a substance that they believe to be a controlled drug to prevent further
offences being committed. If staff are unable to identify the legal status of a drug, it should be
treated as a con trilled drug. DfE/ACPO
4. Education and prevention strategies are the most effective when the whole school community
including parents/carers and governors (where appropriate) are involved.
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2. Guidelines for Schools and Colleges Writing or Reviewing their own Policy
All schools will have a policy which sets out the school’s role in relation to all drug matters.
The purpose of the school/college drug policy is to:
• Clarify the legal requirements and responsibilities of the school/college.
• Reinforce and safeguard the health and safety of pupils, and others who use the school.
• Clarify the school’s approach to drugs for all staff, pupils, governors, parent(s)/Carer(s),
external agencies, and the wider community.
• Give Guidance on developing, implementing, and monitoring the drug education programme.
• Enable staff to manage drugs on school premises and any incidents that occur, with
confidence and consistency and in the best interests of those involved.
• Ensure that the response to incidents involving drugs complements the overall approach to
drug education and the values and ethos of the school/college.
• Provide a basis for evaluation and effectiveness of the school/college drug education
programme and the management of incidents involving illegal and unauthorised drugs.
A Whole School Approach
A whole school approach to drugs should be adopted, this should include:
• Consideration of policy by the whole school community – staff, parent(s)/Carer(s), pupils,
governors, and the wider community
• Consistency with school’s values and ethos, developed by all members of the school
community.
• Drug education that is a part of a well-planned programme delivered in a supportive
environment, where pupils feel able to engage in open discussion and feel confident about
asking for help if necessary.
• Policy and practice for managing incidents is consistent with teaching.
• Pupils’ needs and views are taken in to account when developing programmes and policies
• Staff have access to training and support.
• It is supported by consistent messages from the family and community.
The advice and guidance in the DFE and ACPO Drug Advice for Schools September 2012 is helpful as a
checklist when compiling or reviewing a school or College Drug policy.
Advice template (publishing.service.gov.uk)
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Change History
Version
Date Issued
Issued by
Reason for change
1.0
09.03.2011
Professional Partner
to Schools
First Draft for review
1.1
05. 2011
Professional Partner
to Schools
Second Draft for
review
1.2
06.2012
Professional Partner
to Schools
Third draft for review
1.3
05.2014
Professional Partner
to Schools
Final Draft
1.4
06.2014
Professional Partner
to Schools
Amended as
suggested by MDAC
1.5
06.2014
Professional Partner
to Schools
Links to ESC policies
removed
1.6
07.2014
Professional Partner
to Schools
Amended as
suggested by
Secondary
Headteachers
1.7
05.2016
Professional Partner
to Schools
Updated name of the
Department and
removed names of ED
Officers
1.8
08.2021
Head of
Inclusion/Service
Manager Vulnerable
Children
Updated policy,
procedures and links
to curriculum. Name
changes.
Approval
Presented to
Approved by
Date
Secondary Headteachers
Amendments made as
suggested
07.2014
Primary Headteachers
07.2014
SMT
07.2014
HOS
09.2021
SLT
approved
22.11.2021
