Drugs policies: guidance and examples

Last reviewed on 8 February 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 41646

Find support with writing or reviewing your school’s drugs policy, with guidance from the DfE on what to include and examples of policies from schools.

Article tools

Contents

  1. Read DfE advice on writing a drugs policy
  2. See primary school examples
  3. See secondary school examples
  4. See an example from a pupil referral unit

Read DfE advice on writing a drugs policy

The Department for Education (DfE) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have jointly published non-statutory drugs advice for schools.

Annex A contains a suggested framework for a drugs policy. It lists areas that a drugs policy may cover, including:

  • The policy’s development process
  • The context of the policy and its relationship to other policies
  • Where and to whom the policy applies
  • Definitions and terminology
  • Management of drugs at school and on school trips
  • Police involvement
  • Information sharing
  • The role of governors

See primary school examples

Academy in Leicestershire

Little Hill Primary School has a drugs and alcohol policy that includes:

  • A definition of 'drugs'
  • The responsible staff members
  • Details of the school's approach to drugs education

Community school in Hampshire

Harestock Primary School has a policy for managing drug-related incidents which covers:

You can find the policy

Most popular

Also in 'Health and safety policies'