Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve understanding of the effects on education of the misuse of drugs by children in schools.

The government funds the annual survey of smoking, drinking and drug use, which provides authoritative statistics on smoking, drinking and drug use among 11 to 15 year olds in England. It has been run annually since 1982 and provides national and regional trends in substance use. The latest survey data from 2014 shows that 18% of 11-15 year olds have smoked at least once, which is the lowest level since the survey began in 1982. The percentage of young people who have tried alcohol at least once (38%) was also its lowest level since 1982 and drug use has continued to decline with 15% of 11-15 year olds reporting that they had tried drugs at least once.

The evidence is clear that pupils with better health and wellbeing are likely to achieve better academically and that misusing drugs is likely to harm a child’s health and education.

As part of the statutory duty on schools to promote pupils’ wellbeing, schools have a clear role to play in preventing and handling drug misuse as part of their pastoral responsibilities. Department for Education jointly published drug advice for schools and local authorities, with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in September 2012. The advice is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drugs-advice-for-schools