PEMBROKE SCHOOL has been seeking to reassure families following a serious incident involving drugs at the school. 

Headmaster Mr Frank Ciccotti wrote to all parents and guardians on Wednesday following seven students becoming unwell after experimenting with a legal high. Some students were treated at the scene, and others were taken to Withybush Hospital on May 14. Mr Ciccotti wrote: “I know that some parents are worried about drugs following the incident last week which had so much media attention. “I would like to reassure you that this was an isolated incident. One year 10 pupil had brought a ‘legal high’ into school to share with his group of friends at lunchtime. He bought this the previous evening in the local area, not on the school site. This group of 10 friends went to a secluded woodland area, a long way away from the school building, and shared the drug. “Unfortunately, one student had a very severe reaction to it. This was reported to us by responsible students. He was so unwell that we called for an ambulance and they in turn called the air ambulance as a precautionary measure, although ultimately it was not used to take him to hospital. “Together with all the pupils who had taken the drug, he was checked in hospital and released later that evening. All are now well. “All the pupils involved in this incident have received fixed term exclusions. This is our standard practice for the very few incidents involving drugs or alcohol on the school site. It is our way of sending a strong message that Pembroke School does not tolerate drugs and alcohol. “We also co-operate fully with the local police. For example, we recently agreed that the police could come to the school with drug sniffer dogs as a deterrent. This was not because we had an issue with drugs, as has been reported in some newspapers, but as part of a police initiative involving several local schools. It was a very effective exercise. “The police are talking to pupils in special assemblies this week, and I am emphasising to pupils that these drugs are not safe and that we take disciplinary action if ever pupils are found with drugs on site. “I hope this reassures you. Pembroke School takes a strong stand against drugs, and our PSE programme brings in expert speakers to emphasise the risks and dangers of both legal and illegal drugs.” This, however, was not the first letter to parents about drug use at the school, Mr Ciccotti wrote to parents at the beginning of April, warning that legal highs were being taken at the school. The April letter stated: “You will be aware that we are currently cooperating successfully with the police on a programme to raise awareness of illegal drugs. However, there are some problems we are currently facing with a small number of students using other substances which are not currently illegal. I am writing to make our position on these clear.” The letter added: “These are drugs which are often as dangerous as illegal drugs but which have not yet been classified. They result in the same outof- control behaviours and the same risks to students. We will treat them in the same way as illegal drugs both in relation to supply and consumption in school time.” Police attended the school to offer support and reassurance on the day after the incident. Officers carried out further inquiries at the school regarding the “psychoactive substance”. A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Although the majority were taken to Withybush Hospital as a precaution, none were admitted and soon returned to their parents. “Officers will be visited the school to provide advice, support and reassurance, and conduct further inquiries.” Police said so-called legal highs frequently contained substances that were not legal and could not be assumed safe. “These substances have not been properly tested to see how toxic they are to humans so there is no way of telling how a psychoactive drug will affect you,” added the spokesperson.