UP to 12 boys have been thrown out of Bournemouth School for smoking cannabis on and around school premises.

They have been permanently excluded under the grammar school’s zero tolerance approach to drugs and are now looking for places in other schools.

At least one of the boys is about to take GCSEs and is currently studying at home.

And Headmaster Dr Dorian Lewis has warned parents and pupils that students and their lockers may be searched in the fight against drugs in the school.

He said mobile phones could also be confiscated and messages and social media posts viewed. He warned any evidence will be passed to police.

Dr Lewis has also spoken out about his disappointment about the “very poor decisions” made by the boys.

And he said their places in the heavily over-subscribed school could have been better used by others.

In a letter to parents, he said the drugs issue has given him sleepless nights but added: “In adopting a zero tolerance approach to banned substances in or around school, we appreciate that we may be out of kilter with many in today’s society, who appear to ignore, condone, or even promote the use of illegal drugs such as cannabis.

“We believe that the risks associated with the use of any illegal substance, including links to mental health issues such as psychosis and schizophrenia, are so great that we need to have an extremely robust approach to protect the innocent and law-abiding majority.

“It is upsetting when students in an oversubscribed and successful school compromise their life chances, through poor decision making, when so many others who were not allocated a place at our school could have taken greater advantage of their opportunities.”

The boys are believed to be between the ages of 13 and 16 and from Years 9-11.

Dr Lewis said permanently excluding the boys was a difficult decision but added: “I have to balance the needs of the individual against the needs of the school community.”

He said Dorset Police gave a presentation to all year groups earlier in this academic year following an earlier permanent exclusion for possession of cannabis.

Dr Lewis added: “I want to ensure that everyone in our community is aware that any student found to be using or possessing any illegal drug, in or around school, on their way to or from school, on a school trip, or when they are identifiable as a member of our school, will face a permanent exclusion.

“We will remain vigilant and respond to any information that we receive about the possession or supply of banned substances. This will include searching students and their lockers, confiscating ‘phones and viewing messages, social media posts and call logs.”