We will not tolerate the misuse of drugs within our Academy and its grounds nor by students either representing the Academy out of school hours or on any Academy organised trips or visits. Students are representing the Academy and therefore subject to our rules and sanctions on their way to and from the Academy at the beginning and the end of the day, and at any time they are wearing our uniform.

This applies also to any adult or persons who may come onto the school site and may be intoxicated and/or in possession of illegal drugs. Our school is a no-smoking area and we request that all members of the community and visitors refrain from smoking on or around the premises.

We recognise that some of our students and parents need a variety of medicines and appropriate arrangements are made to enable the correct distribution of these. The Drugs and Alcohol Policy forms part of our overall approach to health and well-being. Through our Personal Development curriculum, our tutor time activities, our assemblies and through our school ethos. We aim to ensure that students recognise the importance of what they eat and drink and the effect that this can have.

Self-respect and a healthy lifestyle are all part of an approach which will enable our students to make the right choices for themselves and their families now and in the future. It is important to note that the Academy sees inappropriate drug use by students as something to be challenged and changes in behaviour sought through support and counselling wherever possible. It is likely however, that any student found to have been distributing illegal drugs, whether or not in return for payment, will be excluded from the Academy and the police contacted.

Definition of “Drugs” for the benefit of this policy

The term “drugs” refers to:

• All illegal
• All legal drugs, including alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and electronic smoking devices, volatile substances (solvents) and novel psychoactive substances (‘legal highs’)
• All over the counter and prescription
• Any other drugs such as anabolic steroids