Pupils axed from Stewart's Melville College over cannabis use

The teenagers, all boys aged between 14 and 15, were spotted by their teachers and then identified by CCTV on August 31. They were found to have been smoking the class B drug over several weeks

Today, principal David Gray said he felt he had no other choice than to ask the schoolboys' parents to withdraw their children from the 18,000-a-year private school.

He said: "We had to ask the boys' parents to withdraw their sons, which is very sad and disappointing. Our investigations showed that at least two of the boys had been smoking the drug on the school's site and the pupils had been involved in drug-taking during the school holidays.

"This kind of practice is totally incompatible with our ethos. If they had been allowed to stay, what would it say to the rest of our pupils? We conducted a proper investigation and dealt with the facts properly and fairly, but this was the only conclusion we could come to.

"We are trying to help the boys find places at other schools. It is such a shame because they were good pupils and they were very honest when we questioned them. They were remorseful and realised how serious the matter was.

"We got the police involved because we were concerned about who was supplying the drugs. Even though some of their activities were committed out of school hours, we like to watch out for our students."

The principal informed staff and pupils of the school's decision in an e-mail, which said: "In Edinburgh, as in any other big city, there are dangers and temptations for all adolescents and it is important that school and parents in their own roles work to ensure that the children in our care do not succumb to the temptation to become involved in activities.

"It is very important that parents and staff should be aware of these dangers and make it their business to know where children are and what they get up to.

"I would be grateful if you would remind your children of the various consequences of drug misuse, as I shall be doing in a more public arena at school."

The school has a strong anti-drugs policy and runs an extensive drugs education programme in Stewart's Melville's junior and senior schools.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders Police are investigating after youths were found in possession of cannabis on school grounds in Edinburgh. Inquiries are under way to determine where the cannabis was bought from.

"Lothian and Borders Police are committed to removing drugs from our communities and would urge anyone with information to contact police immediately."

[email protected]