Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to work alongside (a) headteachers and (b) other school leaders to help reduce vaping in schools.

Schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy that sets out what is expected of all pupils. This should include listing items that are banned from school premises, the sanctions that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and rewards for good behaviour. This should be communicated to all pupils, parents, and school staff. Schools have the autonomy to decide which items should be banned from their premises, and these can include vapes and e-cigarettes. Items banned by the school can be searched for, as outlined in the Department’s ‘Searching, screening and confiscation at school’ guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/searching-screening-and-confiscation.

The relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance states that, in both primary and secondary school, pupils should be taught the facts regarding legal and illegal harmful substances and associated risks, including smoking, alcohol use, and taking drugs.

To support schools to deliver this content effectively, the Department published a suite of teacher training modules, including one on drugs, alcohol and tobacco, which makes specific reference to vapes and e-cigarettes.

The Department believes that this will help head teachers to manage vaping on school premises and to inform young people of the risks, with a view to reducing the numbers of young people who are currently vaping, or who might be tempted to try it in the future.