Police arrested an 11-year-old who carried marijuana to school to show to his friends.

A Heron Bay Primary School teacher found the student with the drugs at the school on Tuesday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett did not disclose the amount of drugs found.

But she said the child's parents were called to the school and the child admitted having the drugs on him.

"The child was arrested and cautioned in the presence of his parents and was escorted to Hamilton Police Station to be processed,'' Mrs. James Barnett said.

The student was subsequently released on bail and Police investigations were continuing.

But The Royal Gazette understands that the youngster was a model student who had performed well throughout his school career and had never been in trouble.

He was believed to have found the drugs and taken them to school to show to his friends.

Heron Bay Primary principal Alan Leigh had no comment when contacted yesterday.

And Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher refused to answer specific questions about the incident.

However, he confirmed that the matter was under investigation and that the principal "applied the penalties that were appropriate to the Code of Conduct''.

Under the Code of Conduct, school officials must carry out the following if a student is suspected of violating the substance abuse policy: explain to the student the reason for the suspicion; escort the student with the evidence of suspicion to the administrator; ask the student for an explanation; inform the parent who will be asked to come to the school to discuss the incident; and investigate the incident by questioning the student and staff members and by searching the student's possessions in the presence of another teacher or administrator.

"The administrator will request assistance from the Police Department in carrying out a personal search of the student and seizure of controlled substances,'' the code says.

And while consequences ranging from suspensions to mandatory drug testing and expulsion are listed in the document, there is no mention of consequences for sole drug possession.