Parents in Radcliffe have been given a telling off for smoking CANNABIS at the school gate.

A letter was sent home with pupils at St John’s C of E Aided Primary School last week saying the matter was a “serious concern” and that police had been informed.

Deputy headteacher Deborah Binns said the smell had been noticed by other parents at the Johnson Street school as they dropped off their children and that complaints had also been made by some of the older pupils.

The letter, dated just before half term on February 11, read: “We have had concerning reports that parents have been using cannabis around the school premises as they drop off and collect their children.

“This has been reported by parents and has been noticed by some of the older children.

“This is a serious safeguarding concern and if further complaints are brought to our attention, we will notify the relevant authorities. We have informed the community police service and they are likely to be keeping a close eye on this situation.

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“Please respect our school as a place of learning and make sure you set an appropriate example within the community.”

A copy of the letter was shared on Facebook with many questioning why people think it is acceptable to smoke illegal substances with children around, and why they can’t wait the half an hour it takes to drop off or pick up their child.

Sarah Sharples commented on the Spotted:Radcliffe Facebook page: “My 8 year old son was asking me loads of questions about cannabis when he shown me the letter, the school shouldn’t of really given it the kids to give to their parents knowing that most kids read the letters before showing parents, and surely people who smoke it can wait til they get home or at least away from the school to smoke it.”

PavLina Mygiaki Kontopoulou added: “It’s not only at St John’s, it’s a wonderful school with very good teachers and school staff. It’s in every school it has bad quality parents!!!”

Over the past few years there has been much debate about smoking in close proximity to schools with campaigners arguing the smoking ban should be extended to also cover outside schools.

In November, a headteacher in Dover, Kent, banned parents from smoking and swearing at the school gates after complaints from children.