SCHOOLS in Chippenham have stepped up their efforts to educate teenagers about the dangers and consequences of drugs after a Chippenham man was jailed last week for peddling cannabis to children said to be as young as 13.

The head teachers of the town's three secondary schools say they are confident about their PRSE and PSHE programmes, which include issues such as drug awareness, following the sentencing of 32-year-old Simon Baker, who was caught selling drugs to children believed to be wearing Sheldon School uniform near the bandstand in John Coles Park by an off duty cop last September.

PC Robert Poile told the judge at Swindon Crown Court on Friday how he approached the 32-year-old with his warrant card at about 3.30pm on September 12 after he saw the man sat next to schoolboys in the middle of the park 'fiddling with his hands'.

Baker was later arrested after he attempted to run off towards Malmesbury Road, throwing his phone and seven wraps of cannabis to the ground.

This week Sheldon School's head Neil Spurdell confirmed that two of his former students had been involved in the incident, but was stumped as to why they would have been wearing school uniform.

He said: "It was quite a long time ago when this incident happened and we were only made aware of it when it all came out on Facebook. The two names we have been given were former students at Sheldon School but they were not students at the time.

"We currently have a rigorous drug awareness programme within our PSRE teaching. We take the safety of our children very seriously and it is important that they are equipped to understand the world and all that may be thrown at them.

"We are aware that there are drugs out there and we are not naive enough to ignore that."

Pupils at Hardenhuish School also work with Wiltshire Police to improve their understanding of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Headteacher Lisa Percy said: "Although none of our children were involved with this case, we have got a very comprehensive PSRE course which looks at drug awareness among other things. We have also got involvement with the police and our local PSCO's come in to engage with our pupils."

Ian Tucker, head at Abbeyfield School, added: "We teach our PSHE in a spiral curriculum under the impression that skills, knowledge and understanding lead to students making informed choices and we have that going through Year 7 all the way through to Years 12 and 13."

Baker, of Hill Rise, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and was jailed for 20 months.