9^th February 2026

Vaping in school

Dear Parent/Carer,

                                     Your child has been seen in school in possession of a vape, this may be their own or one they have “borrowed” from another pupil in school.

Vaping is not permitted in school, inside or in the grounds. It is harmful to health and against the law for under 18s.

All pupils have been reminded of the dangers of vaping and the fact that it is illegal in assembly and form family time.

Going forward, any pupil seen with a vape will be asked to hand it to a member of staff, if they do not, senior staff will offer support and encouragement to the pupil to hand the vape in.

If the pupil still does not hand the vape in, a parent/carer will be asked to come to school and collect the vape. Following this, should the pupil continues to bring vapes to school and use them, they will be excluded and you would again be asked to come to school for a return to school meeting.

There has been a recent incident in the news where a small group of children in an RCT school were rushed to hospital for life saving treatment after becoming seriously ill after consuming vapes with harmful substances in. This illustrates the dangers of vaping and of course there are longer term health risks which are not fully known.

Please see overleaf a letter from Tonyrefail Comprehensive School which the Headteacher has sent to all parents and carers in light of this very serious matter which could have ended in a fatality.

We ask for your full support in this matter:

• Do not allow your child to bring a vape to school
• If we contact you during the day re collecting a vape as your child will not hand it in, please support this as best you can.

Thank you.

 

Victoria Cox-Wall

Headteacher

Ty Gwyn Education Centre

 

From the Headteacher of Tonyrefail Comprehensive

Dear Parent/Carer,

I am writing to clarify and remind you of the schools’ position regarding the possession and use of vapes (e-cigarettes) in school. We feel it is important to work together to ensure everyone understands the risks and the school’s position on this matter. Vapes are not permitted on school premises under any circumstances. This includes carrying them in bags or pockets, lending them to others, or using them during the school day.

• Any vape found in a learner’s possession will be confiscated and disposed of. Vapes will not be returned under any circumstances.

• If there are any concerns with the vape, we may refer the matter to the police for further analysis and investigation.

• If a child refuses to hand over a vape parents/carers will be contacted.

• If we are concerned for learner welfare and we deem it appropriate or necessary, we may also refer the matter to the Police.

• There may be occasions where learner behaviour in relation to the possession, use of vapes or cooperation may result in sanctions being issued such as a fixed term or a permanent exclusion and or a referral to the Police.

While many young people believe vaping is harmless, evidence shows that:

• Vape liquids can contain nicotine and other very harmful substances.

• Devices bought online or from unregulated sources in the community can pose additional health risks.

• Young people can become quickly addicted, even if they feel they are “just trying it.”

• Vape liquids can cause serious medical emergencies.

We kindly ask for your support in:

• Talking with your child about the risks of vaping.

• Checking bags or belongings if you have any concerns.

• Reinforcing the message that vapes are not allowed in school.

• Support us as a school when we confiscate and dispose of vapes.

We will be linking in with external agencies to provide a range of suitable education for

learners as part of our wellbeing program and assemblies.

Our priority is to keep all learners safe, healthy, and focused on their learning. If you

have any concerns or feel your child may need support, please contact us and we will

be happy to help or share details of agencies that can offer support.