Parents' shock as child brings cannabis into primary school  

PARENTS have criticised a school for not informing them that a Year 6 pupil had been caught in the school grounds with cannabis on him.

Teachers alerted police after discovering the pupil - who is likely to only be ten years old - had a bag on him containing a small quantity of the class B drug.

The child was spoken to by police officers after the incident on Monday of last week at 11.15am and they escorted him home.

No charges have been brought against the boy or his parents and a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said the incident has been handed over to the school.

Several parents have expressed disappointment at the lack of openness from the school in Dorsten Square, with many saying they have not had any communication whatsoever about the matter.

Most also complained that they had only found out about the incident because they had read about it online.

Billy Davies, 26, of Greenwich Close, Broadfield, said: "It's disgusting. You wouldn't think that sort of thing would end up at a primary school.

"When it [the story] came out, parents were going mad. I only found out from one of the kids, who said another kid had been 'arrested' at school. We've had nothing from the school to tell us about it."

Minnie Deen has a daughter in Year 5 at the school. The 47-year-old, of Spencers Road, West Green, said she had been informed by the school via a newsletter.

She said: "I was really concerned. I only heard from the newsletter, which they sent out on Monday.

"The head teacher said [in the letter] she can't make any comment because the police are investigating. She said they were not going to let it happen again.

"Some parents are annoyed because not everybody was notified. Lots of people only found out when they read it online.

"The head teacher said people should be careful going online and reading about it because people were saying the wrong things, that it was even worse than it was."

Matthew Hanslow, of Birkdale Drive, Ifield, said he hadn't even heard about the incident. The 35-year-old said: "I do think the parents should be held accountable."

Bewbush Academy's head teacher, Elizabeth Harrison, has not responded to several requests for a comment.

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk 18/09/2013