drinking after a bottle of alcohol was taken into a school, angry parents have claimed.

The parents, who asked not to be named, said the students at Sandys Middle School have been unfairly treated because only three were drunk and only one bottle of alcohol was seen.

The parents told the Royal Gazette that the students, who are aged 12-13 and return to school today, are to be forced to attend an alcohol counselling programme which could stigmatise them and make them believe they are alcoholics.

One woman, whose daughter is one of those suspended, said at least 36 students were sent home for a week following the incident, which happened at lunchtime last Thursday. Another mother said her suspended daughter told her around 30 were sent home.

The women said three students at the school in Somerset brought in a bottle of Malibu and took it to the netball court.

A group of around fifty ran over to see what was happening and the bottle was passed around.

Teachers then questioned the youngsters, who informed on one another, resulting in around 36 being suspended.

The mother said: "No one was drunk and the bottle was just passed around, but they suspended about 36 students.

"It's not fair to suspend all of these children because the only people who should have been suspended were the three who brought the alcohol in. The rest could have had in-school suspension.

"My daughter knows she has made a mistake and I have corrected her, but they are making all these kids out to be alcoholics.

"All the children are going to look down on the kids when they return as if they are alcoholics. They have got to go to an alcohol presentation when they go back.

"It might turn other kids into alcoholics because they think they are alcoholics, although it might help some. Children will be children and I think it ought to be left up to the parents.

School pupils suspended school for a week. They've all been riding all over the streets in Somerset when they could have been in class because the parents have already punished them. People have been complaining about seeing them all over the streets.'' A second mother said: "The three pulled out a bottle and a teacher came over and didn't ask any questions and then told them they were all dismissed.

"My daughter was not involved in the drinking so she should not have to go on the alcohol counselling course.'' Sandys Middle School principal Melvyn Bassett could not be contacted by The Royal Gazette .

DRUGS DGS