Ministers want schools to focus on the risks of vaping in health education lessons as part of a new crackdown.
The government has said today that the dangers of vaping will be included in health education as part of its ongoing review of guidance for these lessons.
It also announced that dedicated police school liaison officers will use “new resources” to work to keep vapes sold illegally to children out of schools.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said he was “deeply concerned” about an increase in children vaping and was “shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the inclusion of the risks of vaping in health education lessons seemed “sensible” but said it was “slightly irritating that this is yet another announcement made without any prior discussion with school leaders”.
He added: “It will be important that the updated relationships and sex education [RSE] and health education guidance - when it appears - is accompanied by sufficient resources and support for staff training from government.”
Targeting under-age vaping
Mr Barton also said that the announcement of dedicated school police liaison officers to keep vapes sold illegally to children out of schools was “lacking in detail”.
“Presumably, this means through police staff helping out with education programmes with young people, but our impression is that police forces have cut back dedicated provision to schools because of lack of funding, so we are not sure how deliverable this will be in practice,” he added.
Mr Sunak ordered the acceleration of a review of RSE and health education statutory guidance in March, in response to reports that inappropriate material was being taught in some schools.
As part of an announcement on measures to tackle under-age vaping today, ministers have also pledged to close a loophole that allows retailers to give free samples of vapes to children in England, amid concerns over the proportion of children trying e-cigarettes.
Ministers cited NHS figures from 2021 that showed that 9 per cent of 11- to 15-year-olds had used e-cigarettes, up from 6 per cent in 2018.
The prime minister said he was “deeply concerned” about an increase in children vaping and was “shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of schoolchildren”.
“Our new illicit vape enforcement squad - backed by £3 million - is on the case but clearly there is more to do,” he said.
“That is why I am taking further action today to clamp down on rogue firms who unlawfully target our children with these products.
“The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good.”
