Elmete Central School headteacher told to stop pupils smoking in playground

A headteacher who allowed children as young as 11 to smoke in the playground has agreed to change the policy, education bosses said today.

The practice was allowed at Elmete Central School in Roundhay, Leeds, until yesterday after the issue was highlighted.

The school caters for 75 pupils with educational and behavioural issues and it was believed children were allowed to smoke in an attempt to stop them playing truant.

It is understood children had cigarettes confiscated at the start of the day but they were returned by staff for break times and could be smoked on school grounds.

Leeds City Council education bosses have now stopped the practice.

Paul Brennan, deputy director for children's services, said: "We take this issue very seriously and as soon as it was brought to our attention, we spoke to the school and issued an instruction that it must stop immediately.

"We are confident this practice has now ceased.

"The recently-appointed headteacher has agreed to review any such practices, and to make sure this does not happen in the future we will conduct unannounced visits by local authority staff.

"We have a strict no-smoking policy in all of our schools and encourage them to promote healthy lifestyles to all pupils."

PA