23rd July 2026
Thanks to further funding from The Office of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, following the successful roll out of our Drug, Alcohol and Nicotine Education ( DANE) resources for secondary schools, this half term Karen and Helena have been facilitating focus groups in three schools across Dorset and BCP to find out from Year 6 what they would like to see and learn about in their PSHE drugs education. They also spoke to year 8’s to understand what they would like to have known about before transitioning to senior school. Key findings from the work with year 6 were:
- Sadly, some pupils had familial lived experience of dependency and of being in care as a result of substance abuse.
- There was a broad range of differing knowledge and misconceptions around drugs and different substances.
- Pupils were generally aware of the terms 'peer pressure' and 'peer influence' and their meanings.
- The general feeling around PSHE in year 6 was that it hadn't been enjoyable and pupils found it difficult to remember the topics covered.
- Pupils had a range of issues that they felt they would like to know more about such as how to say no to drugs and substances, why people use drugs and how people get addicted.
- Pupils had heard about drugs from a range of places and people including family and friends, school, social media, songs and online.
- Pupils like to learn through activities, drawing and group work
A secret ballot was held so pupils could confidentially write down any concerns they might have. This identified a knowledge of local shops where illicit substances were available, concerns around public spaces such as parks where consumption is taking place and they have been or might be offered a substance, being worried about taking something unknowingly via a peer and wanting more information.
Karen and Helena have also held focus groups with the teachers in those schools to understand the gaps in knowledge, problem areas, confidence in delivery and what is needed. Key findings from this work were:
- Teachers felt that the distancing techniques and trauma informed approaches we use work well.
- The importance of tutor involvement was highlighted due to knowledge around pupils' individual situations and to ensure safeguarding concerns are met.
- Teacher training is seen as essential to ensure the correct knowledge and skills are in place as teachers were identified as trusted adults pupils may approach with any concerns.
- Vaping and energy drinks were the main concerns and parental engagement will be important in helping to tackle these issues.
- Teachers didn't feel they fully had the knowledge and skills needed to teach drug education and whole staff training is needed.
- Printed resources would be helpful to support drug education for Key Stage 2.
- A range of suggestions around what would be helpful in terms of drug education were given and included staff training and engagement with parents and carers.
These findings will inform the new suite of drug education resources for years 5 – 8 which is currently being written by our experts at The Talk About Trust, before being trialled by the new Year 6 pupils in the participating schools next academic year. Please do email helena@talkabouttrust.org if you would like to know more.