Drug-taking and bullying rife in schools, survey finds

Almost half of all schoolchildren have been involved in drug-taking, drinking, smoking or bullying behind school gates, according to a survey of parents.

The Colmar Brunton survey of 1000 parents showed 47 per cent of them were aware their child had been personally affected by bullying.

Eleven per cent said their child had smoked cigarettes, 4 per cent had been drunk at school, 5 per cent had taken drugs and 18 per cent said their child had been involved in stealing.

The survey, carried out for right-leaning think-tank the Maxim Institute, also revealed almost two-thirds of the parents were worried about the lack of discipline in schools. Just a quarter were happy with the level of discipline.

Bruce Logan, Maxim Institute director and a former principal, said schools needed to have higher expectations of their students and the confidence and ability to take more effective action to ensure a disciplined environment.

However, discipline and pupil behaviour was firstly the responsibility of families.