Drug Education and the Management of Drug Misuse in Scottish Schools: 1996 - 1998

1 Introduction

In 1996, increasing concern about Drug Misuse led HM Inspectors of Schools [HMI] to establish arrangements for monitoring the provision of drug education through surveys of schools involved in the general inspection programme and through a small number of focused inspections of school drug education. The schools chosen for the general inspection programme provide a representative sample of provision in Scottish schools. The schools in the focussed inspection sample were selected by their education authorities on the basis of their good practice. Taken together, the results of the two samples provide an overview of the range of practice. This paper discusses the findings, summarised in Table 54. Also contained in Table 54, is information on school partnerships with parents and outside agencies since these aspects contribute to the quality of provision.

2 General Inspections

2.1 HMI carry out an ongoing survey of drug education by asking each school in the general inspection programme to complete a questionnaire which is then evaluated as part of the inspection. The results of these surveys over the period 1996-98 are summarised in Table 54.

2.2 Almost all secondary schools in the sample provided drug education for each pupil, but only some 61% of primary schools did so. A number of primary schools had plans to extend drug education to all pupils, but HMI found that this aspect of provision showed no sign of overall improvement between 1996 and 1998. HMI expressed concern that so many primary schools are not ensuring that every pupil receives effective drug education.

2.3 The involvement of parents in drug education and the existence of a policy on managing incidents of Drug Misuse in schools showed some improvement over the period 1996 to 1998 but in HMI's view much still remained to be done. Most schools provided parents with information on school drug education programmes but few involved them in programme development. Most secondary schools had policies on managing incidents of Drug Misuse, whereas about 64% of primary schools still relied on arrangements which were, in HMI's view, insecure and informal.

2.4 Between 1996 and 1998, schools made more use of support agencies such as the health, social work and police services to support their programmes of drug education. These agencies were often valued as a training resource for staff. However, HMI found that, in 1997-98 there was an increased tendency for primary schools to use external agencies as a substitute for, rather than a complement to, a drug education programme which was planned and delivered by teachers. In HMI's view this inappropriate practice is at odds with national and education authority advice.

2.5 While HMI found that the quality of provision varied across the country, the results indicated that schools were more likely to have a good drug education programme in areas where education authorities had made their expectations clear in a policy statement. In HMI's view there was overall a need for education authorities and schools to work together to ensure that good practice is extended to all schools so that every pupil has effective drug education.

3 Focused Inspections and Postal Survey

3.1 In 1997-98, HMI undertook focused inspections in a sample of schools which had been identified as having effective provision in drug and nutrition education. HMI also undertook a postal survey of a further sample of schools which were nominated as examples of good provision. The results of these surveys over the period 1997- 98 are summarised in Table 54. Not surprisingly, HMI found that these schools generally did make good provision. However, there was significant variation across schools.

3.2 Drug education was generally best in schools where good overall curriculum leadership was given by the headteacher and promoted staff, and where there were sound arrangements for the management of resources and for systematic school self-evaluation.

3.3 The schools in this sample were at different stages in implementing national 5-14 advice on health education, particularly in relation to the balance and progression of pupils’ learning. A few schools had arrangements which were in HMI's view, over-reliant on the initiative of individual teachers.

Policies and Procedures for Managing Incidents of Drug Misuse

3.4 Around 20% of schools in the sample had still to clarify and establish their procedures for managing incidents of Drug Misuse.

3.5 HMI found that some schools with generally good welfare procedures had yet to extend their arrangements to include managing incidents of Drug Misuse. More generally, where staff were unsure of school and education authority policy, pupils occasionally lacked appropriate personal safety skills. One school was unaware that the education authority had a policy on managing incidents of Drug Misuse and had produced its own less comprehensive approach. In HMI's view schools and education authorities should ensure that all those involved in meeting pupils’ welfare needs have an informed understanding of agreed policies and expected practice.

Partnerships with Parents and School Boards

3.6 Partnerships with parents and School Boards were generally good. The partnerships often focused on ensuring that pupils were protected, as far as possible, from any local culture of Drug Misuse.

Partnerships with Support Agencies

3.7 Overall, partnerships with support agencies, such as health boards and the social work and police services, were good. Partnerships were most effective where schools had clear education authority guidelines and where staff had a clear understanding of their responsibilities, including arrangements for confidentiality and family support.

4 Summary of Provision

4.1 HMI have found that provision in the sample of schools in the focused inspection was generally good but, as outlined above, HMI concluded that some areas were still in need of improvement. Given that this sample was generally better than the more representative sample in the general inspection programme, HMI see a clear need for continuing efforts to provide more consistent and effective health education and promotion, in relation to drugs.

4.2 The HMI report, “Drug and Nutrition Education. A Study of Provision in Schools and Community Education” available from HMI [Schools] provides more detailed coverage of current provision of drug education in Scottish schools.