This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Drug Education in Schools 2002/2003
23/09/2003
The results of the
fourth annual survey on drug education in schools
are published today.
Information was collected on the drug education
provided by all schools inScotland. Each school was required to give details of whether
they provided drug education, what type of drug education
they provided and their procedures for managing incidents
of drug misuse and tobacco smoking.
Responses were obtained from 99 per cent of local
authority schools and 94 per cent of all other
schools.
The main findings are:
* In 2002/03, 99 per cent of schools inScotlandprovided drug education, compared to 98 per cent in
2001/02. The figure is 100 per cent for Local
Authority primary and secondary schools but is lower for
special schools and non LA schools. (Table 1)
* In 2002/03, 99 per cent of schools provided
education on controlled drugs (compared with 98 per
cent for 2001/02) and this had also increased for all
other types of drug education (the safe use of
medicine, alcohol, tobacco and solvents). (Table
1)
* Ninety-eight per cent of schools provided drug
education to each pupil at some point during their
schooling, and 97 per cent said that each pupil will
receive drug education which provides progression and
continuity throughout their schooling (compared with 97 per
cent and 94 per cent respectively for 2001/02). 94
per cent of schools reported providing drug education that
was in line with current national advice. (Table 1) *
Fifty-six per cent of schools with drug education
programmes had revised them within the last two years, and
a further 40 per cent within the last two to five years.
(Table 2)
* In 2002/03, 84 per cent of schools had written
procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse that are
in line with current national advice. These proportions
were 83 per cent for primary schools, 90 per cent for
secondary schools and 87 per cent for special
schools. Local authority schools were more likely
than other schools to have such procedures.
* Seventy-two per cent of schools with written
procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse had
revised them within the last two years, and a further 26
per cent within the last two to five years. (Table
4)
* Fifty-nine per cent of schools had written
procedures for managing incidents of tobacco smoking by
pupils and 79 per cent by other school users e.g. teachers
and visitors (compared with 51 per cent and 73 per cent
respectively in 2001/02). Primary schools were less
likely than other schools to have such procedures for
pupils.
* Eighty-nine per cent of schools reported that
they had access to a health education co-ordinator
(compared with 87 per cent in 2001/02).
* All local authority primary schools in 20
authorities reported that each pupil will receive drug
education which provides progression and continuity and
that all types of drug education were covered. In
other local authorities, the vast majority of primary
schools said that they provided each form of drug
education.
The survey covers all primary, secondary and special
schools but not pre-school education centres. The
results exclude responses from a small number of special
schools for whom provision of drug education is not
appropriate for some or all of their pupils, due to complex
learning difficulties. For the purposes of this survey,
drugs are defined as mood changing substances including
medicine, alcohol, tobacco, solvents and controlled drugs
such as, for example, cannabis, cocaine and heroin.
Current national advice on drug education is set out
in the following:
* How Good is our School? (The Scottish Office,
1996) - performance indicator 1.2 (quality of course or
programme).
* A Route to Health Promotion (Aberdeen City
Council, HEBS, HMI, 1999).
* HELP UP-DATE on drug and nutrition education
(LT Scotland Curriculum File No 9).
* 5-14 national guidelines on health
education.
A school is defined as providing drug education
to each pupil if every pupil who stays at that school
'from start to finish' will receive drug education at
some point. To provide 'progression and continuity', it
would be expected that each pupil would receive drug
education at several stages during their time at a
particular school.
For drug education to be in line with national
advice, it must be provided to every pupil and provide
pupils with continuity and progression in their
learning. It must also include education for all of the
following areas: safe use of medicine, alcohol,
tobacco, solvents and controlled drugs. All drug
education has to take account of the age, stage and
maturity of the children involved and it is accepted
that education on controlled drugs may not be
appropriate until later in primary school.
The methodology has changed since last year as
schools are now classified as not following national
advice if they report that they don't fulfil all of the
criteria. In addition, the survey now takes account of
the fact that infants (P1-P3) are not expected to be
taught about controlled drugs.
The methodology has also changed since last year
as schools are now classified as not having written
procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse which
are in line with national advice, if the school reports
that they do not have written procedures in place.
Current national advice on managing incidents of
drugs misuse is set out in the following:
* HMI reports : Issues in health education and
promotion (1996) and Drug and nutrition education
(1999).
* HELP UP-DATE 1998.
* Guidelines for the Management of Incidents of Drug
Misuse in Schools (SDST, SEED, 2000).
This is a National Statistics publication.
National Statistics are produced to high professional
standards set out in the National Statistics Code of
Practice.
They undergo regular quality assurance
reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs.
They are produced free from any political
interference.
Enquiries about the information contained in this
News Release should be addressed to Bianca Heggie,
Assistant Statistician, SEED, 1-A Victoria Quay, Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0300 or e-mail
ea.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk 12.