If schools know pupils are using drugs at parties completely outside of school, is it their business?

[sartorial]

Obviously all schools have a firm policy against drugs on school premises etc. But if they were told that students were taking drugs at parties in their leisure time, is it any of their business?

Legally there is nothing they can do. They might inform parents if they thought it would be helpful or talk to the students involved. It would depend on the situation and the teacher involved.

Here in Singapore the law is such that if you know of a crime and don't report it you can be prosecuted. Of course the situation is different in the UK.

Thanks. Any other views?

I remember when i was in 6th form back in the late 70s four boys using drugs at a party (marujana)and the shcool was told and the boys were suspended. We all thought it very unfair at the time as it was completely outside school.....

I've just heard the Today programme - seems this is quite topical, given the proof that early cannabis use increases the likelihood of psychosis.

Do you want random drugs testing in school? Then they'd have evidence they could use to act.
What would you like to happen?

Yes, depending on the circumstances it could be a police or child protection issue. The school has a duty of care to it's students that extends beyond the gate.
They're unlikely to punish students for something that happens outside school hours.

Apart from running anti-drugs education programs (generally not terribly effective) I don't really see what schools can usefully do. Besides which in the older age groups many children will be smoking and drinking both illegally and harmfully, so it's not just 'drugs' that may cause problems, in fact excessive alcohol is more likely to cause both immediate and long term problems than any of the illegal drugs (although granted for most school children it's also illegal to buy booze).

I agree with Nooka. Also, a bit of a wild idea I know, but what about the parents having a responsibility?

I think if you looked into it, every school would have their element of drug users sadly.

What can the school do about it if it happens out of school time. The teachers are not there to do anything. They can and do give drug advice in all schools, but the parents would be responsible out of school hours.

'what about the parents having a responsibility?'

Actually I'm coming at it from a slightly different angle - I have to talk to the dc's school about a situation and don't know if I should mention that drugs may be involved. What I'm asking is whether the school will have to jump to it if drugs are mentioned; and whether I'll be dropping the dc involved (not my dc) in a whole heap of trouble, which I don't actually want. Not least because I'm not absolutely sure if drugs are or are not involved.

It depends on the school. Most independent schools have some form of drug testing capacity with appropriate consequences.

Thanks. No, it's a state school, a good one.

I doubt the school would act immediately against the dc involved, especially as it's third hand information. It'll probably be recorded by the school's child protection officer and any action would depend on other information they have about that child. A young person with access to drugs, especially dealers is very vulnerable and the school would want to help protect them.

Thanks. You both make good points. AutumnWitch, that is what I would hope. Actually I can't avoid mentioning that there is a lot of promiscuity going on, but they are over 16 so it's not illegal; AFAIK that is up to them. Sorry to sound prudish, but it's about general worrying behaviour; I don't want to go into detail obv. It's tricky though.

Trouble is Op, you don't actually have any factual information. I mean you say you're not absolutely sure. The school would need more thna this, surely ?

Yes, you're right. One of the dc involved has definitely told the others that she can get hold of drugs if they want to try them. I don't know if any of them took her up on her delightful offer. But actually that girl is not at the dc's school.

The reason that ideally I would like to mention it is that it's relevant background info, setting the scene as it were. I know I'm being evasive about what The Situation but I am just too nervous about identification to put it all out there, sorry.

I had as bit of CRB training. Basically, it said: you are an amateur, don't try to sort problems. Report up to the appropriate, trained person and let them work it out.

We have had a situation several years ago where some pupils were going out of school at lunchtime and coming back, behaving very 'oddly'. Whilst the staff involved were very certain that drugs were involved, there was a limit as to what they could even say to the parents. A school cannot make accusations without proof, which we didn't have. So all the school could do was to call the parents and ask them to collect their DCs with a 'strong' recommendation to take them to their GP as they appeared to be 'unwell'.

Whether the parents did anything, I don't know but that was all we could do at that time. Things may be different now but teachers cannot accuse without proof.

So I doubt the school will be able to do much about it - it really is a parental issue.

Thanks, I think that's reassuring. As ever on MN, just writing this stuff down is helping me clarify my thoughts, and your input is very helpful. I am going to be at pains not to make accusations - that's really a concern - you know how sometimes things can get very formal when all you were doing is saying things look a bit dodgy.

One dd, from another school, offered drugs ? Have you told this to any of the other parents of children who were at this psrty, who you are freindly with ?
Do they know ? Because I would want to know. I wouldn't want the school involved, I would prefer to be told, by a freind,. and then I would have a talk to my ds, to find out what had been going on.

But thats just my personal preference.