A former pupil is suing Buckswood School after claiming she suffered a drug-induced psychotic episode and post-traumatic stress disorder after being supplied with drugs by older pupils, The Times has reported.

Buckswood School is a co-educational private school pupils located in Guestling, East Sussex.

Nineteen-year-old Irune Pedrayes said older male pupils supplied her with mephedrone-laced vape liquid when she was 14 leaving her “high all weekend” and that teachers had failed in their duty of care towards her.

Pedrayes is suing the school for £145,000 in damages in the High Court.

After the alleged incident the girl was taken to hospital after suffering a “psychotic outbreak” with symptoms including hallucinations, anxiety and tearfulness. She was later involved in another drug-related incident and was withdrawn from the school in 2019.

Pedrayes’ barrister Maghann McTague told the court: “The claimant spent the whole weekend – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – consuming a class B drug that was supplied to her by older boys at the school and drinking alcohol that was also supplied to her.

“The drug use took place on the rugby pitch at the school.  She was with four other students from the school. Nobody discovered these students. Nobody noticed, despite attending mealtimes and at bedtime, that she was high all weekend.”

Nigel Edwards, for the school, said: “The defendant avers that it complied with its obligations and put in place risk assessments, systems and rules to educate, discourage and try to prevent pupils accessing drugs.”

He added: “Staff were available night and day within the boarding house. School rules were in place expressly prohibiting illicit drugs.”

The judge reserved his decision following a two-day trial.