PUPILS SMOKE DOPE ON OUTING TO THEME PARK.

Eleven pupils from a top Scottish secondary school face disciplinary action after being caught smoking dope at a theme park outing.

The 14 and 15-year-old third year students at Lenzie Academy could be suspended after being spotted by security guards at Alton Towers in Staffordshire.

Teachers monitoring the day trip from Lenzie Academy near Glasgow were not with the youngsters at the time but were alerted by security staff.

The teachers phoned head Roderick McLelland who called the group - made up of around 75 pupils and staff - back to the school. McLelland will decide the fate of the pupils involved today.

Days before the trip, pupils got a letter warning them that if they stepped out of line they would face "serious consequences".

Last night a parent said: "I wouldn't like to be in the pupils' shoes. Parents were called to be told their children had been smoking cannabis.

"They were waiting at the school on Friday night with an angry reception for the children involved.

"It didn't help that the bus broke down on the way home, leaving them stewing even longer."

Alton Towers spokeswoman Liz Greenwood said: "Eleven children were spotted smoking cannabis and were taken to the security complex.

"The teachers were contacted and they phoned the headmaster who told the group to cut short the visit."

The police were not involved.

An East Dunbartonshire education spokeswoman said: "An investigation will be carried out and appropriate action taken."

It is not the first time pupils have brought Lenzie Academy into disrepute.

After a Christmas ball in 1996, seven pupils were suspended and one girl rushed to hospital after excessive drinking.

The school, which is in the up-market town of Lenzie, has one of the top success rates in Scotland for highers.

Last year 41 per cent of pupils got three or more highers at A, B or C. The national average is 19 per cent.