Mobile Phones

We have clear restrictions on the use of mobile phones and headphones during the school day. 

If a student chooses to bring a mobile phone to school, it must be switched off and in their bag at all times from the moment they enter the Academy gates to the point of exiting through the gates. 

Headphones must also be in bags. 

This means that students must not use their phones/headphones during lessons, moving between lessons or at break or lunchtime. 

The only exception to this will be if their teacher asks them to use headphones explicitly for educational purposes during a lesson.

These rules are in place for safeguarding reasons. Mobile phones can provide unfiltered internet and social media access; this alongside their photo and recording capabilities means that they are a safeguarding issue. These rules are communicated clearly in our Induction Packs to new students and families, to parents/carers at information events and via email/text messages, and to all students in form time, lessons and assemblies.

We carry out regular uniform and equipment checks, and as part of this, we carry out spot checks to ensure that students are following the mobile phone rules that are in place.

Any of the following will result in a student’s phone being confiscated:

• A student is found with a phone on their person, not in their bag (switched on or off)
• A student is seen with a phone, theirs or another student’s
• A student is seen using a phone, theirs or another student’s

If a student has their phone confiscated, a parent or carer will be contacted via phone or text message and asked to come to the Academy to collect the phone from main reception.

Phones will not be returned to the student, they will only be returned to a parent/carer.

Reception opening hours are 8:00am until 4pm, Monday to Friday. The phone will remain locked in the safe until it is collected by a parent or carer. If a parent cannot collect their child’s phone during normal office hours, they should contact the school and we will try to arrange another time for you to be able to collect the phone.

Refusal to hand over any device will be treated as refusal to follow instructions and defiance and may lead to a suspension from the Academy.

We thank you for your support in helping us implement our policy and would encourage you to speak to your child about this and why we are doing it. As always, if you need to get an urgent message to your child, please call main reception and we can pass it on during the school day.