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Anger as pupil accused of taking drugs and drinking alcohol allowed back to Homewood School in Tenterden

00:01, 07 February 2015

A mother has removed her two children from Homewood School after a pupil excluded for allegedly drinking alcohol and taking drugs was allowed back in.

The mother, who does not want to be identified, said: “What sort of message does this send to the other children?

“I was told by the school that the pupil was allowed back because they needed to be educated – but what about my children’s right to an education?”

Homewood School, Tenterden
Homewood School, Tenterden

Homewood principal Sally Lees confirmed that the school had dealt with an incident involving a controlled substance and said that “sanctions have been imposed according to the school policy”.

The mother has children aged 13 and 15 at Homewood.

She said: “I told the school I was taking them out and asked if they could have some work, as it was my axe to grind on their behalf, but was told they could not.

“My oldest child has exams coming up so is revising at home and the other has a history project to complete.

“What sort of message does this send to the other children?" - Concerned parent

“They are not going back to Homewood if someone who is excluded for drugs and alcohol is allowed back in.”

The mother alleged that the excluded pupil had been caught drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis in school.

She claimed that after being allowed back, the pupil had been bragging to other pupils.

“I will go to parliament about this if I have to,” she said.

“If Homewood is saying that this is what they do, then I don’t think it is safe.

“I have asked for reasonable answers and was offered a meeting at the school, but I want to take it further.

“Parents should be aware of what their children are going to school with.”

Sally Lees, the principal of Homewood School, Tenterden
Sally Lees, the principal of Homewood School, Tenterden

Mrs Lees said: “The school has dealt with an incident involving a controlled substance and sanctions have been imposed according to the school policy.

“Our policies can be found on the school website and are therefore available to all parents. All our policies are in line with national guidance.”

She added: “We cannot discuss individual cases, but can confirm that a fixed term exclusion is the normal sanction for incidents involving controlled substances.”

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