Warwick Academy's board of governors will have the power to suspend any student who refused to be drug tested.

In a letter distributed to all parents this week, the school spelled out its no-nonsense drug abuse policy.

And it stressed that the policy, which was part of Warwick Academy's health education programme, applied to students from Primary One to Secondary Five.

The school also listed signs of drug abuse that parents should be able to identify.

"Like all schools we've been working hard to publish a policy which is within the health programme of the school,'' principal Mr. Bernard Beacroft told The Royal Gazette . "We see the drug policy as part of a wider health education programme.'' He noted that the policy -- which covered the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs -- had received input from the school's board of governors, parents, and the National Drug Commission.

It includes the following: Suspending of any student found in possession of, or using tobacco on the property; Drug testing of students suspected of using alcohol or any other drug after consultation with parents, the headmaster, and the board of governors;