Mobile Phone Polices

[rickysmiths]

I have just got this from my sons High School and thought some of you may be interested on that level. Also though it may give some ideas for new Policies for Sept.

Sorry it is long!


13 July 2012
Dear Parent,
Mobile Phones
I am writing to you to outline the concerns we currently have with regard to the use of mobile
phones and new procedures we will be putting in place for the use of mobile phones from
September 2012.
Up until now students have been able to bring a mobile phone to school to use only at break
times and lunch times. The sanction for disregarding this rule has been the confiscation of the
mobile phone.
We have become concerned about the increasing number of mobile phones that have been
confiscated and also the seriousness of some of these incidents that have occurred with regards
to inappropriate use of mobile phones. This year alone has seen an increase in the severity of
some off the incidents that have been dealt with and the time that has been taken to investigate
and resolve issues regarding mobile phones. In several cases the police h have been involved.
In summary our concerns are as follows:
Misuse of phone
increase of use of mobile phones at inappropriate times (in and between lessons)
increase of use of mobile phones as a cameras
more incidents involving sending photos via mobile phones to others
increase in number of inappropriate text messages sent or broadcast to others, in
school time, causing upset to others (cyberbullying)
Socialisation
using the phone, often to play games on, at break time and lunchtimes, at the expense
of socialising and communicating appropriately
Safeguarding accessing inappropriate material via the internet on a mobile phone without the
protection of the safeguarding measures that are in place for using the internet in
school.
The safeguarding issue is significant. As you are aware mobile phone technology is advancing
at a very fast pace and nearly all devices are now able to access the internet freely. The
school acts in loco parentis throughout the whole school day and currently is not confident with
regard to this particular issue.

Due to the increasing concerns we have with regard to mobile phones it has been decided that
from September 20012 mobile phones will only be all owed to be used for making phone calls or
sending texts before school starts and after the end of the school day.. This means that
mobile phones must not be used, for any purpose, at any other time. This includes break time
and lunchtime.

One exception is Sixth Formers who will be allowed to use their mobile phones for phone calls
or texting at break, lunchtimes and study periods in the Sixth Form block only and off--site
during exeats.
The sanctions for misusing mobile phones for all students, including sixth formers, will be as
follows:
First Offence
Confiscation for 24 hours – parent to collect phone from school or to provide a letter for
student to collect

Second Offence
Confiscation for 24 hours – parent to collect phone from school

Third Offence
Mobile phone banned from school, parents written to

Please note that with regard to confiscation the schools’ general power to discipline as set out in Section 91 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, enables a member of staff too confiscate and retain a student’s property as a disciplinary penalty where reasonable to do so.

I hope that you understand the concerns we have and why we have decided to put new
measures in place regarding mobile phones from September.

Thank you for your support in this matter .

[sarah707]

i can see their point! It's scary how children misuse them - and spend so much time attached to them.

I wonder if it will be enforceable though??

:D

[christine e]

It certainly makes you think. I hadn't thought about children coming here and being able to access the internet on their phones.

Thanks for sharing

Cx

[rickysmiths]

It does make you think doesn't it. It bothered me to be honest the day they took out the pay phones and allowed mobiles in school.

My ds has been involved in cyberbulling via phone this year at school and it was nasty. It also happened to others in his friendship group who are a lovely bunch of kids. Done by a lad who only joined the school in 6th form last Sept and being the nice bunch they are they had befriended him and a new girl and what he did to them was indescribable. My lad was in tears for weeks, it affected his work and so his marks in the run up to Christmas and he lost his lovely girlfriend over it all. Other friends suffered at this lads hands as well.

[PixiePetal]

at my DS school mobiles are meant to be turned off during the day - go to office if a parent needs contacting or they need to contact parent (like in the old days :rolleyes:)

with similar sanctions for using them

In truth they are often on and in silent mode - including DSs :rolleyes: he has been told I will not go and get it, if I was asked, until it was convenient for me - and then only once. He really needs it to contact me as village bus sometimes does not turn up to get home. So far so good. Mind you it is not a fancy all singing all dancing one anyway :thumbsup:

[catlyn]

a school close to us introduced a complete ban earlier this year but had to compromise after an outcry by parents........

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/07/02/u-turn-over-consett-academy-mobile-phone-ban-61634-31301316/

[miffy]

Certainly makes some points worth thinking about but I also think it will be hard for the school to enforce.

Thanks for sharing Rickysmiths

Miffy xx

[rickysmiths]

They already apply a confiscation policy if you are found using your phone during a lesson. My son found out to his cost 2yrs ago when his phone rang in a lesson.

It took me a few days to beable to go and collect it for him :rolleyes:

We have never had a repeat. So they do enforce it now they have just extended the times they can't use them.

[md0u0131]

at my DS school mobiles are meant to be turned off during the day - go to office if a parent needs contacting or they need to contact parent (like in the old days :rolleyes:)



This was the rule in my old school. It was VERY difficult to enforce it as a teacher, kids are very good at stealth texting and almost impossible to police at breaktimes etc.