Cocaine was found inside a five-year-old girl's schoolbag at The Glasgow Academy, a prestigious private school in Glasgow. Staff discovered the class-A drug and immediately alerted police and social services.
Incident Details
The incident occurred weeks ago, but details have only recently emerged, according to the Scottish Daily Mail. The school, founded in 1845, has nearly 1,700 pupils aged three to 18, with annual fees ranging from £12,495 to £17,040 depending on the year group.
A source told the newspaper: "To say this has rocked everyone in the school is an understatement. The main concern is for the child. We dread to think what might have happened had the child accidentally tasted the substance or even shared it with others. The outcome could have been devastating. We all hope the school board and management team are taking the matter seriously."
School Response
The Glasgow Academy's main campus is at Kelvinbridge, with additional sites in Milngavie and Newlands for Nursery, Kindergarten, and Prep 1-4 pupils. A school spokesman said: "We do not comment on matters relating to individual children. Where any concern is raised, we act on it promptly and work closely with families and relevant authorities to keep every child in our care safe."
Broader Drug Concerns
The Scottish Health Survey reported that cocaine use among adults in Scotland's most affluent areas has doubled from 2% in 2021 to 4% in 2023. Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, commented: "This deeply distressing incident hammers home the drug epidemic Scotland is facing. It does not bear thinking about what might have happened if this child had ingested this dangerous substance."
Police Scotland has been approached for comment by the Mirror.
