A SCHOOL has issued a warning to parents and says it's working with police after a student reportedly brought ecstasy tablets onto the grounds and was caught trying to sell them outside.

Thomas Hardye School Headteacher Nick Rutherford said he wanted to ‘provide clarity’ on the situation in a letter sent out to parents amid talk of the incident - and stressed how the school continued to be a safe environment.

Dorset Police confirmed it had received a report that suspected drugs had been found at the school and officers were investigating. The party drug ecstasy (MDMA) is a Class A substance which usually comes in tablet form.

The Echo was passed the headteacher's letter by a concerned parent.

Mr Rutherford wrote: “Thanks to the vigilance of staff, we became aware that a student was trying to sell ecstasy pills outside the school.

“They were recovered and we are working with police to ensure our school continues to be a safe environment for staff and students."

The letter goes on to say that students are approaching an age where ‘risk-taking’ becomes more common.

Mr Rutherford said in the letter that it was ‘increasingly important’ that young people are receiving a ‘constant message’ about the dangers of drugs, and he referenced a Dorset Echo story about hospital admissions linked to ecstasy.

Dorset Echo:

The headteacher also referenced the use of drugs such as cannabis starting at an earlier age and seen as ‘normal’ among groups of teenagers.

Mr Rutherford called on parents to ‘reinforce’ the messages students learn in PSHCE and the assemblies programme.

He said: “Social media is the primary means of communication for most young people and can be the first indication of negative influences.”

The letter also outlines the consequences of action saying that ‘the supply of drugs to other students will always result in a permanent exclusion.’

It also brings up the problems associated with ‘abusive behaviour on grounds of race, sex, sexuality, religion, gender orientation or any other protected characteristic,’ saying that there are ‘serious sanctions’ for any behaviour that would constitute a criminal offence if carried out by an adult.

The headteacher highlighted the ‘dangers of ignorance’ and how vulnerable ‘some children are’ to suggestions that they need to fit in. 

He continued to say that 'most students in the school' did not need to hear this message, calling the majority 'kind, responsible and hardworking.'

The letter - sent out last week - tells parents that advice about drugs and support is available on the Talk to Frank website. 

The Echo contacted the school and Mr Rutherford said he did not want to provide any further comment.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 12.45pm on Friday, October 6 that a small quantity of suspected class A drugs had been located at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester.

"Enquiries into the matter are being conducted and officers are continuing to liaise with the school, with appropriate safeguarding advice given.

"No arrests have been made. An investigation remains ongoing and we are unable to comment any further at this time."