Two pupils have been expelled from a prestigious Bradford district school after allegedly selling drugs.

Bingley Grammar School has revealed that a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, described as a promising A-level student, were expelled last term after allegations that they sold cannabis on school premises.

Two other boys aged 14 and 15, who admitted buying the drug, were excluded from school for four weeks.

A 15-year-old was arrested for allegedly selling the drug and police have passed a file on to the Crown Prosecution Service. The 14-year-old who admitted buying cannabis was also arrested and has been cautioned.

Headmaster John Patterson said the school had never had any problems of this kind before.

"We are determined that drugs will play no part whatsoever in the life of Bingley Grammar School,'' he added. "We are well aware that drugs are available in many parts of Bradford, but it is essential they should be kept out of schools.

"Parents must feel confident that in sending their children to school those children will be safe and secure. We are very certain that, with the support of parents and the local police, we can ensure that this problem does not recur.

"Pupils at Bingley tend to be keen to do well and value having a place at the school. They have been left in no doubt about the consequences of any involvement with drugs. Parents have been extremely distressed by the incidents."

He said a small amount of cannabis had been sold over a two-day period in early March. Staff vigilance had resulted in the seizure of the drugs and the incident had been confined to four pupils.

The chairman of the school's Governors Disciplinary Committee, Julia Lister, said: "It's a surprise but I cannot comment further because one of them is appealing." She said the appeal would be heard by the end of April.

Detective Inspector Gary Baker, of Keighley Police, confirmed: "A 14-year-old local youth has been cautioned for possession of cannabis and a 15-year-old has been interviewed by police and the file has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service."

Bradford Council figures show that in 1996/7 there were 190 permanent exclusions from the district's schools of which seven were drug-related and in 1997/8 out of 159 exclusions, seven again were drug-related.

The 16-year-old involved will be offered guidance by Careers Bradford and the local education authority will help the 15-year-old who was expelled to find another school place where he will be closely monitored.

Councillor Suzanne Rooney, deputy chairman of education, said: "We are very clear as an LEA that selling is an exclusion offence. Cannabis is an illegal drug but we are very aware that it is quite widely used by young people.

"But the selling of any drug within an educational institution would require us to inform the police and this may lead to a period of not being in school.''

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