TWO pupils at St Peter's School, in York, who were expelled for smoking cannabis have been readmitted by headmaster Andrew Trotman.

The two 15-year-old boarders were expelled after they were arrested by police for smoking the drug in the Museum Gardens just before the end of the summer term.

The school's Rule 5 warns that any involvement in the purchase, possession or use of illegal drugs is a serious breach of school rules and pupils involved must expect to leave the school for good.

Mr Trotman has told parents in a letter that he decided to readmit both boys after an appeal to the school governors.

The school said today that a number of mitigating factors had been taken into account including the fact that both boys were pleasant, hard-working pupils with previously good disciplinary records. They had both told the truth immediately and had made no attempt to cover up their involvement in the incident.

Mr Trotman said it may have been that pupils did not fully understand the drugs policy of the school and said the incident had spurred a review of this policy.

He said today: "We are all aware of the debate going on within political, medical and legal circles about drugs and criminality, particularly in relation to whether or not cannabis should be legalised.

"However, as a school, we have a duty of care to our pupils and we must deal with the position as the law stands today not how it may be in the future.

"As a result of our review the rule on the misuse of drugs remains in force. Future offenders must not expect to escape the consequences of their actions."

The school has stepped up its drugs education programme as part of weekly personal social education lessons for all pupils and has also been working with police and outside agencies.

Updated: 11:18 Monday, September 10, 2001