AN EDUCATION officer is looking to head teachers to rethink their 'zero-tolerance' to drugs and avoid automatically excluding pupils caught in the act, writes Education Reporter Jennie Dennett.

The move follows figures in a Cumbria County Council report showing an 85 per cent increase in drugs-related suspensions in the last academic year.

There were 40 suspensions from South Lakeland schools for using, supplying or possessing drugs from a countywide figure of 74.

A further six were expelled for drugs offences compared to just one youngster the year before including three from schools in the south of the county.

Cannabis was the only substance involved in every case.

CCC's senior education officer Linda Rundle said she was concerned about the higher level of drug-related exclusions and would be meeting with head teachers to address the 'zero tolerance' approach that some have adopted.

The tough tactic has resulted in at least one South Lakeland pupil being expelled for sharing cannabis with friends even though it was a first offence.

"There are times where we have said it is inappropriate to use expulsion for this especially where young people and parents are willing to take drug counselling," she said.

"If the schools have on their prospectus they have zero tolerance they have covered themselves.

What we have said is that it should not be set in tablets of stone and should be looked at in each case."

Kirkbie Kendal School's head David Smart told The Westmorland Gazette he was sticking by his strict policy of expelling anyone caught bringing drugs to school and encouraging others to try them - an approach he said had attracted strong parental support.

One Year 10 pupil fell foul of the rule in May and was swiftly expelled despite LEA objections.

"Parents don't want that sort of thing going on in schools.

If the only way you can achieve that is by permanently excluding the ones peddling it then that's the way it has got to be."

Detective Sergeant Barry Fitzgerald of the police drugs squad said: "Drug use just seems to be on the increase across the board and that will include young people and some

of it when they are at school.

What hasn't helped is the confusion over legalisation of cannabis."

Overall, some 50 pupils were expelled across the county - 11 more than last year.

Suspensions were also up marginally by 0.7 per cent to 2,970 pupils.

Boys behaving badly accounted for around eight out of 10 exclusions.

Dave Smith, the head teacher of Sedbergh' s Settlebeck High School and chair of the South Lakes Consortium of secondary schools, said: "The fact that Government has loosened the reins a bit means we have now returned to a more healthy situation where heads are able to use their discretion and powers more effectively."