THREE boys aged between 13 and 15 have been permanently excluded from Sandbach School after being caught supplying and dealing drugs.

The school has also given fixed term exclusions of 10 days each to five boys for possession and for linking up other students within the school with the suppliers.

Headteacher Peter Wiles clamped down on the pupils after warning students earlier in the year that anyone who brought illegal substances into the school would be excluded.

And after seeking the advice from the Department for Education and Skills, Cheshire County Council and Congleton CID officers, the Governors' Disciplinary Committee fully endorsed Mr Wiles' decision.

"A small group of students chose to ignore this warning. I wish to make it clear that Sandbach School will always take a strong line with any of its students who attempt to provide the means whereby other students gain access to drugs.

"Current research indicates the medical dangers of long term use of cannabis, which include depression and schizophrenia and the school is determined to resist the influence within the community which enables students to have access to, and start becoming dependent upon, drugs.

"The school has received strong support from the Cheshire education department and the schools' parents in taking this firm line.

"The parents of the students involved have likewise given the school much support in encouraging their sons to move away from this influence upon their lives.

"One of the students who was permanently excluded is in Year 11 and is sitting his exams with us and having home tuition. The five students on fixed term exclusion have returned and are now taking part in the county drugs awareness programme," he said.

Cheshire County Council has now found the expelled boys places at other schools in the area. The excluded boys have a week left to appeal against the decision but had not done so as the Guardian went to press.

"I hope that the action gives a clear message to the rest of the school, the vast majority of whom are opposed to any personal involvement in the drug subculture that seems to be percolating society in these times," added Mr Wiles.