I HAVE some experience of exclusion for drug offences, having been a deputy head in a successful (four Ofsted Outstanding grades) Dorset school where we enforced a zero tolerance policy and the behaviour of 1700 students was described as exemplary over many years.

Perhaps those advocating drug awareness courses or second chances can explain the following:

How are the 98-99% of students who despite the same challenges as their peers manage to largely conform to clearly stated rules to be encouraged or valued if others are not severely sanctioned?

How does a child who does not associate with drugs or dealers find him/herself involuntarily taking in drugs? Behaviour can be a constrained choice but it is a choice.

Why should schools not take account of the age of criminal responsibility, ten, when dealing with a criminal offence? Sanctions exist in all other areas of society; intervention and positive strategies should follow sanctions not replace them otherwise discipline is more generally eroded and schools fail to reflect the reality outside. Try telling other parents, staff or well behaved students ' I know he brought in drugs, but at least he's getting counselling or work experience!' What does that say to the child struggling with mental health issues or family breakup but following the rules?

Schools must care for the individual - Ofsted always commented on our exceptional ethos- but the primary duty is to the community of students and parents; eroding discipline in one aspect of school life subverts discipline generally. Those asking for leniency would probably not want that but either the school explicitly states that exclusion is not warranted for drug offences - good luck with that with the majority of parents or the press- or sanctions must be severe and enforced. Otherwise the law of unintended consequences will come into play.

KEVIN BANKS

Larksmead, Blandford