Questions have been raised about the likely effectiveness of random drug testing in schools.

Random testing has started at Abbey School in Kent, thought to be the first state school to have tried it. It argues the tests give children an excuse to say “no” to drugs.

Anti-drugs charities say they doubt the deterrent effectiveness of the tests. And because prior consent is needed, only those who know they have done nothing wrong will take part, they say.

Each week at the Abbey School, in Faversham, a randomly-chosen group of pupils will be tested. Mouth swabs were taken from at least 10 on Wednesday from among the school’s 960 girls and boys aged 11 to 19. Their samples were sent off to a laboratory to be examined, with results expected in three days’ time.

The head teacher, Peter Walker, said children were looking for an excuse to say no to drugs, against peer pressure, and the scheme would give them that excuse. “One of the difficulties we have got in our society is that the government has tried so hard and so much to try to improve levels of prevention, yet we are not meeting with enough success,” Mr Walker said.

Paul Carter, Kent council cabinet member for education, said random drug testing was fraught with legal problems so the council had issued guidance. “I believe the tests will be a strong deterrent to youngsters dabbling in drugs at parties on the weekend,” he said.

Link: BBC Education.