THE head teacher of Ilkley Grammar has reiterated the school's hard-line on Drugs after a sharp-eyed teacher spotted a suspected cannabis deal taking place on the premises.

The substance was seized, one boy was excluded for a day while another, an unnamed 14-year-old, faces expulsion from the Cowpasture Lane school.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Head teacher Gillian James said that school policy remained unequivocal.

She said: "We are taking a firm line on drugs and pupils should know exactly what we are doing. It is unacceptable and if it is found on school premises we will deal with it. We want parents to be reassured.

"Our primary concern is the safety and security of all the youngsters in the school. We want a clear message to be got across that drugs will not be tolerated."

Mrs James said that the incident, although not yet proved, was a suspected attempt at drug dealing spotted by a member of staff.

Senior staff called in police following the incident and the matter is being investigated.

Detective Inspector Shaun Berry, of Keighley CID, said extra drugs prevention work would take place at the school.

"It is unlikely that under current legislation there will be any further action taken other than the youth being cautioned for possession. We will continue to work with this school and others in relation to taking positive action against drugs being found on school premises."

Shortly afterwards Mrs James and chairman of governors Michael Noble issued a statement saying: "Following an incident involving drugs on the premises, a Year Nine student has been excluded from the school.

"The matter is in the hands of the police. The school takes any issue involving drugs very seriously and is committed to taking appropriate action."

The incident comes shortly after the top-performing school attained the Criteria Standard of the Bradford Schools' Drug Prevention Initiative, which will be presented at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on July 13.

The ceremony will be presided over by the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and Superintendent Colin Western, West Yorkshire Police.

The school's high-profile anti-drugs programme includes warning posters around the school while assemblies with drug sniffer dogs have been held and pupils have been frisked and their bags checked for illegal substances.

Mrs James said: "We have a strong drugs education programme through-out the school.

"We are very vigilant and we base our work on the students' openness and honesty. The parents are very supportive."

Mrs James said it was the first incident involving drugs since she took over two years ago. But she acknowledged that like the rest of society, a school of 1,500 pupils had to face up to the reality of the drugs menace.

She said: "We are not immune to the drugs issue. Drugs are in the community - it is a national and local issue. If we have suspicions we will act on them and act on any evidence we find."

She said that the school made sure that recent changes in the way cannabis was dealt with under the law did not lead to an ambivalent attitude among pupils.