16th June 2023 Dear Parent Carers, Weekly Update: 16/06/23 I hope this update finds you well. This week’s update has a special focus on vapes and ecigarettes. As you may have read in the news recently, there has been a significant increase in young people using vapes or e-cigarettes. As schools in Derby, we have also seen this increase and are concerned about the health implications of vaping at this age. Derby secondary schools are working together to highlight these concerns with our students and their families/carers. This letter is designed to provide you with some key information about the health concerns and the law around vaping. Health Risks Vaping is not risk free, and NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends that vaping should be discouraged in children and young people and people who have never smoked. This is because: • A child's brain is still developing, scientific studies show that it isn’t safe for them to use any tobacco product that contains nicotine, including vapes. • Taking nicotine from a vape is still risky even though it isn’t from a cigarette. • Some vape batteries have even exploded and caused serious harm to people. Vaping and the law In the UK it is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to under 18s or for adults to buy them on their behalf. Any retailers selling vapes illegally should be reported to Trading Standards. School Policy Education is one of the most effective ways of preventing drug and alcohol misuse and the degree of associated harm. In Derby secondary schools we are committed to providing a quality health education curriculum. As part of this, students receive quality drug education that includes drugs, alcohol, volatile substances and vaping. This aims to:
Sabrina Hobbs Principal St Martins School, The Derwent Campus, Bracknell Drive, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0BT Tel: 01332 571151 Email: admin@stmartins.derby.sch.uk Online: www.stmartinsschoolderby.co.uk The Shaw Education Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (no 09067175) Registered address: Shaw Education Trust, Kidsgrove Secondary School, Gloucester Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 4DL. The details of our academies registered as business names can be found at www.shaweducation.org.uk.