TEACHERS determined to fight the Drugs menace have turned to Ilkley Grammar School pupils for some expert advice.

Pupils in Year 12 have been invited to meet with staff at schools across the Bradford district, to put across their award-winning anti-drugs message.

The youngsters dedication and expertise in this field has been recognised by the local authority following the internal success of several peer educators.

Following the completion of their GCSE examinations last year, a

number of children gave up a week of their summer holiday to be trained in drug-related issues by Bradford Education trainers.

The scheme has proved so successful that Ilkley youngsters have been chosen to present the district's teaching staff with the full drugs picture.

Maureen Shackleton, deputy head teacher at Ilkley Grammar School, said: "It really is an excellent achievement. We are very proud of the fact that pupils from our school are held in such high regard on this issue."

The pupils have been chosen to educate teachers following a decision to end the training programme the Ilkley youngsters followed last summer - financial reasons being put forward for the decision to close it down.

Such is the confidence staff have placed in their drugs-aware pupils that teachers have been 'turfed out' of the classroom during Personal and Social Education classes to make way for the students.

"Everybody has been really impressed with the pupils in these classes. I think it is important the Year 10 children are provided with all the facts on this

subject," said Mrs Shackleton.

The pupils try to make the sessions as interesting as possible, using role play to get the drugs message across.

"It is very important the children are made aware of the drugs problem. They are provided with information about particular drugs and drugs 'slang' for example," said Mrs Shackleton.

"This is not a case of children being preached to. It is important not to patronise them but also not to become involved in scaremongering," she said.

This is not the only success for Ilkley Grammar School in the fight against drugs.

The school has received a charter award from the Bradford Schools Drugs Prevention Initiative.

Organised by Rotary, Soroptimist International and the Police, schools are given a thorough inspection and staff and students grilled about the schools drug information/awareness programme.

Pupils and staff will travel to Bradford City Hall on Wednesday to receive their award and give a presentation in front of The Lord Mayor, senior police officers and Bradford Council's Director of Education.

The students have already given a presentation to staff and governors. "I think we were all bowled over by them, by their confidence and their knowledge," said Mrs Shackleton.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.