Head tells parents: Stop smoking pot on school run
PARENTS at a primary school have been told off for smoking cannabis while they wait to collect their children.
A strongly-worded letter was sent to parents by staff at the Church of England school after concerns were raised that some of them had been smoking the Class B drug at the school gates, with older pupils remarking on the distinctive smell at the playground entrance.
It warned them that police will be ‘keeping an eye on the situation’ at the school in Radcliffe, near Bolton.
The incident is the latest of a growing number of warnings to parents misbehaving on the school run, with schools banning them from spitting, swearing, wearing pyjamas and letting their children urinate in the playground.
The letter, written by deputy head Deborah Binns, was sent out by St John’s Church of England Primary just before half term on Friday, prompting worried parents to take to social media to condemn their contemporaries’ ‘disgusting’ behaviour. It read: ‘We have had concern- ing reports that parents have been using cannabis around the school premises as they drop off and collect their children.
‘This has been reported by parents and has been noticed by some of the older children.
‘This is a serious safeguarding concern and if further complaints are brought to our attention, we will notify the relevant authorities.
‘We have informed the community police service and they are likely to be keeping a close eye on this situation. Please respect our school as a place of learning and make sure that you set an appropriate example.’ A conviction for possessing cannabis – the most widely used illegal drug in Britain – could lead to a caution, a fine or even a prison sentence.
Writing on the ‘Spotted: Radcliffe’ Facebook page, parents said those who had been smoking the drug were setting a ‘totally inappropriate’ example to their children.
Shannon Pearson wrote: ‘Absolutely disgusting. Especially around kids and on the school run. Poor children!’
Phil Burrows added: ‘It’s totally inappropriate, you aren’t setting an example, and 90 per cent of the parents of that school would not have their children in that kind of environment.’
Fellow parent Keileigh Mather commented: ‘That’s shocking. As if they couldn’t wait to get home to smoke it! Wonder if they had their PJs on as well...’ And Jolene Dodd wrote: ‘Most probably don’t work & go home in their PJs to watch Jeremy Kyle before having to leave to pick up the kids again.’
Yesterday St John’s headmaster Jason Harvey said: ‘ Our deputy head had a couple of concerned parents come in on Thursday morning and that’s why we sent the letter out.
‘They have noticed it going on when they were bringing their children into school in the morning. We don’t know how many parents were seen using cannabis.
‘We felt there was a need to send a letter to remind people that this is a place of learning and we are trying to set a good example.
‘We are trying to make sure that the school has a good reputation.’
He added: ‘There are lots of really, really great parents and we want everyone to remember that this is a school. I can’t legislate for people’s actions outside but this is a place of learning. There are things that are appropriate and things that aren’t.’
Greater Manchester Police said: ‘The policing team will be working closely with the school and anyone found to be engaging in such activity will be dealt with accordingly by the police.’
‘Absolutely disgusting’