Matt Wrack, NASUWT Acting General Secretary, said not only are these activities ‘illegal’ for under 18s but they are also contributing to a rise in violent behaviour
Nearly one in five (19%) teachers are aware of pupils using cannabis in schools, with other drugs including spice (9%), ketamine and cocaine (5%) also consumed on school premises.
A survey by the NASUWT teachers union found 7% of staff are aware of kids drinking alcohol, as well as using nicotine pouches (13%) and nitrous oxide (4%) in schools.
The union also warned of excessive consumption of energy drinks, with 71% of teachers reporting pupils drinking highly caffeinated beverages during the school day.
Some 6% of teachers were aware of students using gambling websites or apps outside of school. This rose to almost a quarter (24%) when outside of school.
- In the survey, teachers reported kids being tired, volatile and lethargic. They said some kids thought drugs were “cool”, while others were staying up all night gambling.
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“They are not focusing in class; they are usually very tired and will often sleep in the lesson if not noticed,” one staff member said. Another said: “They become volatile and disconnected and are hard to engage or refuse to take ownership of their studies.”
One teacher told the union: “Lethargy; lack of ambition; they are being introduced to the idea that drug-taking is cool and harmless.”
Another teacher said: “The gambling issue seems to fly under the radar a lot but it’s a very real concern, especially for the post-16 students. Some are not sleeping and instead gambling all night and come into school half asleep.”
NASUWT is calling for a joint approach involving schools, health, police and youth justice services “to help tackle the use of illegal and harmful substances and activities by young people”. The union is also continuing to call for the Government to commit to a school-based counsellor in every school across England.
Labour was urged to implement its pledge to ban energy drinks for under 16s. NASUWT also called for further research into how children are being introduced and attracted to online gambling.
Matt Wrack, NASUWT Acting General Secretary, said: “Not only are many of these activities illegal or prohibited for young people aged under 18, they are contributing to the rise we are seeing in disruptive, violent and abusive behaviour in schools.
“NASUWT teachers tell us that along with increased tiredness and lack of focus and interest in learning, they are causing irritability, mood swings and erratic behaviour among the pupils they teach.
“This is clearly not an issue that schools can solve alone, we need greater action from government and other expert services to help deter young people from using or accessing illegal or prohibited substances or activities and causing harm to themselves or others.”
::: NASUWT surveyed 3,907 of its members in January.
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