NEWENT Community School is taking a tougher stand on drug abuse and has taken action against a member of the sixth form for smoking cannabis.

Head Delia Paveling has written to parents saying that pupils' bags will be searched if staff are suspicious about drugs, although the school has stopped short of a full-scale stop-and-search policy.

Mrs Paveling said: "We are, of course, always vigilant, but sometimes that is not enough and so we propose to ask students to turn out pockets and bags on a more regular basis, especially when we are suspicious."

No drugs have been found through the searches so far.

But just six days after the first letter to parents, Mrs Paveling wrote again informing them that a member of the sixth form had been excluded for a fixed term for smoking cannabis.

The offence was committed not on school premises but in the graveyard across the road, before school had started.

She said: "To our knowledge, no member of the lower school was involved. The student concerned is allowed back to continue their studies on restricted contact with other students.

"I'm concerned that the recent reclassification of cannabis has sent a message to young people that it is legal and safe. Neither is the case."