Over 600 pupils excluded for drugs or booze

Dec 27 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

MORE than 600 children were kicked out of North schools last year for drug or booze related reasons, shock figures reveal.

The Sunday Sun has obtained the statistics which show youngsters as young as SIX were excluded from classes over alcohol and drugs in just one year.

We asked 14 local education authorities across the region how many primary and secondary schoolchildren had been expelled or suspended for these reasons.

Only 10 responded to our Freedom of Information Act request.

And a worrying 635 youngsters, aged from six to 16, were booted out of lessons, prompting union bosses to urge parents to join forces with education authorities to help their youngsters.

At least 23 were expelled, less than the previous year’s figure of 30.

However, overall children appear to be turning to drink and drugs in greater numbers as the previous year saw fewer – 613 – excluded from lessons.

NUT regional secretary Elaine Kay said: “These are very alarming figures and, as with all statistics, may not even show the true extent of the problem.

“Schools are right to demonstrate zero tolerance and remove those pupils who, for whatever reason, are denying teachers their right to teach and pupils their right to learn.

“Parents should be extremely concerned and vigilant about the behaviour of their children and only by working in partnership with schools and local authorities will this number start to fall.”