Mobile Phone Policy

Rationale

Mobile phones are now a feature of modern society and most of our pupils own one. Increasing sophistication of mobile technology presents a number of issues for schools:

• The high value of many phones
• The integration of cameras into phones leading to potential child protection and data protection issues.
• The potential to use the phone e.g. for texting whilst on silent mode.

It is not realistic to prohibit phones being brought to school, nor is it logistically possible for schools to collect phones each morning and return them in the afternoon. It is our policy to allow pupils to have a mobile phone with them in school under the conditions outlined in the policy below.

Policy

1. Phones must not be used for any purpose (e.g. phoning, texting, checking of time, using as calculator, surfing the internet, taking photographs, taking videos) on the school premises.

2. Phones must always be switched off (not on silent mode) and kept out of view.

3. If a pupil breaches these rules the phone will be confiscated and stored in the main office. It will be returned to the pupil the following day on receipt of a letter or telephone call from parents/carers. If the school is not contacted, the mobile phone may be kept until the end of the school week.

Phones must not be taken into examinations.

Emergencies

If a pupil needs to contact his/her parents/guardians they will be allowed to use a school phone.

If parents need to contact children urgently they should phone the school office and a message will be relayed promptly.

Responsibility for Mobile Phones

The school accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the theft, loss, damage to health effects (potential or actual) relating to mobile phones. It is the responsibility of parents and pupils to ensure mobile phones are properly insured.