Drug trouble at girls’ school

A group of students from Hamilton Catholic school, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, have been stood down for an alleged case of serious misconduct involving drugs.

Board of Trustees chairman David Kraakman said five girls, aged under 16, were stood down last Friday for the alleged incident.

‘‘Five students are being talked to and could appear before the board on disciplinary matters,’’ he said.

‘‘I can’t say whether one student’s been caught smoking on or off grounds. I don’t know whether it’s been alleged that they were seen smoking something off-site.’’

Following an initial investigation by school management, some or all of the girls will face the board’s disciplinary committee where it will be decided whether they are suspended, excluded, or allowed back to school.

Principal Chris Allen refused to comment on the matter.

‘‘I’m not confirming or denying that any of this is happening or has happened and I actually don’t have any comment to make,’’ she said.

‘‘Parents will be informed of what they need to know. We’ve got privacy issues, we’ve got all sorts of issues here, you can’t go out and broadcast this to the world. You’ve got kids who are under 16, you’ve got kids who are under 18, you’ve got all sorts of issues going here. The rest of the community doesn’t need to know all the gory details.’’

Mr Kraakman said he dealt with very few serious misconduct cases at the school each year.