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Mobile Phones

Mobile phone rules for students

The Department for Education has recently strengthened its guidance on mobile phones in schools. This guidance now forms part of the statutory expectations for schools and makes it clear that mobile phones should not be accessible to students during the school day. 

As a result, all schools within Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust have introduced a stand-alone Mobile Phone Policy. 

Our policy applies to all mobile phones, smart watches, wireless earbuds/headphones, tablets and any device capable of messaging, recording, photographing, videoing or accessing the internet. 

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

  • Mobile phones and headphones are not allowed to be visible on site.
  • Mobile phones must be switched off and stored securely in student bags before they enter the school gates and stay this way until they leave the school gates at the end of the day.
  • Phones must not be carried on a student’s person at any time, including in their blazer or trouser pockets. 
  • If a phone is seen, heard or found to be accessible during the school day, even if switched off, it will be confiscated in line with our policy. 
 

The updated government guidance also encourages families to consider whether students need to bring a mobile phone to school at all. We recognise that many students do have legitimate reasons for carrying a phone, including travelling independently, personal safety or medical needs. However, where a phone is not essential, we would encourage you to consider whether it needs to accompany your child to school. 

For families whose children do bring a phone, we will also be recommending apps that can restrict access to the device during school hours. This is entirely optional but may provide additional reassurance and help students develop positive digital habits. 

For the very small number of students who repeatedly fail to follow the policy, they will be required to hand the phone in to a member of the Behaviour Team for it to be stored securely during the school day. It will be returned to them at the end of the day. This allows students to retain their phone for their journey to and from school while ensuring it remains inaccessible during learning time.  

Students who choose not to bring a suitable school bag, ie a backpack, must not bring a mobile phone onto the school site. If a student arrives with a mobile phone but no suitable bag in which to store it, the device will be confiscated or handed in for safekeeping until it is collected in accordance with the Academy’s procedures. Please see the uniform section of our website for more information on suitable school bags.

Why are these rules in place?

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.

Daily uniform and equipment checks take place during Form Time. Mobile phone checks will be included in these routines. Students will be given an opportunity to ensure that phones are switched off and placed in their bags. Regular spot checks will also take place at random times to ensure that the policy is being followed. 

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 or carer.

Reception opening hours are 8am 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.

If a student refuses to hand over any device, this will be treated as refusal to follow instructions and defiance and may lead to a suspension from the Academy.

 You can read the full mobile phone policy here.

Please note: Mobile phones are brought onto the school site at the owner’s risk. The Academy cannot accept responsibility for the loss, theft, damage or malfunction of any personal device brought into school. 

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.

Further information can be found here: Mobile phones in schools – GOV.UK

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the rules regarding mobile phones?

The rules are simple – mobile phones must not be accessible during the school day. Students must have phones switched off and in bags before they enter the gates in the morning. They must stay switched off and in bags until after they have left through the gate at the end of the school day. 

Students will have their phones confiscated if a phone is seen, heard, being used, or a phone is found to be on their person and not in their bag. Phones will be confiscated even if they are not being used.

Confiscated phones will only be returned to a parent or carer. 

If, for example, your child carries a travel card on their phone, it is vitally important that they follow the mobile phone rules correctly so that their phone is not confiscated, as if it is, it will only be returned to a parent or carer.

In the event of a student’s phone being confiscated due to not following the rules, and parent or carer is not able to collect and a travel card is on the phone, school will support with either travel fare or transport as a one-off, but this will form part of the discussion when the phone is eventually collected.

If your child needs to pass a message onto you, or they need to speak to you urgently, they should inform a member of staff. Staff can arrange for a call home to be made through main reception, and the child can speak to the parent or carer if they need to.

If your child is feeling unwell at any time during the school day, they must speak to a member of staff who will, if they assess it is necessary, contact First Aid via call out or radio. 

One of the Academy First Aid trained staff will assess the child and determine the next steps. They will contact you if they feel that your child is too unwell to remain in school and ask that you collect them. Under no circumstances should a child use their own phone to call or text home – doing this will result in the phone being confiscated and sanctions applied. 

If your child is feeling unwell at any time during the school day, they must speak to a member of staff who will, if they assess it is necessary, contact First Aid via call out or radio. 

One of the Academy First Aid trained staff will assess the child and determine the next steps. They will contact you if they feel that your child is too unwell to remain in school and ask that you collect them. Under no circumstances should a child use their own phone to call or text home – doing this will result in the phone being confiscated and sanctions applied. 

A suitable bag is one large enough to carry an A4 folder. Small cross body bags or pouches are not allowed.

All students must store their phone, if they bring it to school, in a suitable bag, it must not be anywhere on their person.