Pubdate: Wed, 31 May 2006
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/108
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOLCHILDREN FACE RANDOM DRUG TEST THREAT

Random drug testing could be introduced in all  secondary schools to 
help children resist peer pressure  and "just say no" to drugs.

The first UK school to introduce random drug testing  posted their 
best ever exam results following a  year-long pilot last year.

Now the Government has signalled it is keen for random  drug testing 
to be rolled out nationwide, depending on  the success of a pilot 
scheme they plan to introduce in  Kent schools in autumn.

Headteachers and parents will be asked if they would  like their 
pupils to take part in the pilot.

Kent was chosen by the Department for Education and  Skills for the 
pilot because it was a local headteacher  who first introduced it in 
his school with astonishing  results.

Peter Walker is the former headteacher of The Abbey  School in 
Faversham, Kent. It's a non-selective  specialist school for business 
and enterprise whose  catchment area includes the second most 
deprived council ward in the county. Last year 600 random drug  tests 
were carried out on pupils aged between 11 and  18.

Testing was done by mouth swabs for all classes of  drugs, including 
cannabis, cocaine and heroin. Of the  school's 960 pupils, 86% 
consented to be randomly  tested. Only one child tested positive, for cannabis.

Mr Walker said: "We had our best set of exam results in  the school's history.

"There's less disruption in the classroom, less  incidents in the 
playground or on the way to school.

"Children feel that they are far better protected.

"The biggest reason for taking drugs is peer group  pressure. It 
looks like we may well have found a way  for children to have a 
viable way of saying no to their  peer group."

Mr Walker was immediately appointed as the UK  Government's 
ambassador for random drug testing since  retiring as headteacher two 
months ago.

He is producing guidelines for other schools to follow  and has met 
with US drug czar John Walters to explain  how a grassroots approach 
to tackling drugs works.

Mr Walker said: "What you need to have with a scheme  like this is a 
good support programme. It's not about  catching people out it's 
about helping people get off  drugs.

"It's about time all schools came out and accepted that  there is 
this problem that we need to address. Anybody  who says they don't 
have a drug problem in their school  isn't telling the truth. If we 
were all transparent  that would be a good way of dealing with it."

The Government will commission research based on the  forthcoming 
Kent pilot to establish whether there is a  direct link between 
random testing and behaviour,  attendance and academic achievement.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Mr Walker's  drive and 
commitment is impressive. A key factor was  peer pressure by the kids 
against taking drugs.

"I am determined schools should have all the support  they need to 
tackle this issue."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman