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Original poster

3 day suspension for having phone out in school

343 replies

TooBored1 · 25/06/2025 17:17

Would you think this was reasonable?

For context my DC's school is consulting on going phone free - pupils will have to put their phone into a lockable pouch when they enter school. They will be subject to random bag checks, and if your phone is not in the locked pouch, or if you are caught using it, there will be an automatic 3 day suspension.

Overall, I'm in favour of going phone free, but I think the punishment is too much, especially as it is harsher than that given for fighting/bullying or disrupting lessons.

I also don't think it will prevent cyber bullying, as, as experienced by both my children, this happens in the evening, rather than during the day.

The punishment is ok - your are being unreasonable
The punishment is not ok - you are not being unreasonable

OP posts:
Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 11:55

Needmorelego · 26/06/2025 11:21

@TooBored1 I also think it's terrible that one MAT is allowed to dominate a town.
That's awful.

I know. I think it's now close to 20 schools and around 16,000 pupils, expanding into other cities and the surrounding towns.

OP posts:
Hufflemuff · 26/06/2025 11:48

3 days suspension is ridiculous. Schools bleat on about how important it is to attend school and not go on term time holidays and tell you to only call in sick if your arms hanging off... then pull bullshit like this.

Needmorelego · 26/06/2025 11:21

@TooBored1 I also think it's terrible that one MAT is allowed to dominate a town.
That's awful.

Needmorelego · 26/06/2025 11:18

TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 11:09

Thank you. You are correct, the question was about the sanction for the offence, not the offence itself.

Show quote history

3 days straight away does seem extreme to be honest because if the student becomes a repeat offender then what on earth would be the next level of punishment?
Maybe it should be a sliding scale of punishment.
1st offence - detention.
2nd offence - 1 day suspension.
3rd offence - 3 days.
I also think it should be internal suspension because 3 days at home will be 3 days sitting around on the Xbox for many.

Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 11:15

Digdongdoo · 26/06/2025 10:54

Schools have been fighting against phones with proportionate punishments for 15+ years, and it's only getting worse. I'm not sure what other choice they have at this point. Parents should be backing schools up, not questioning them.

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No.

  1. This is a consultation so by definition requires parents to consider the proposal and to ask questions, make suggestions etc.
  1. As parents, it is our duty to hold those teaching our children accountable, and that includes questioning policies, sanctions and rules where appropriate

Neither of these prevent me as a parent backing up school, ensuring my children are well behaved, respectful and engaged in school. And neither prevent me from engaging in respectful, meaningful dialogue with school about things that affect my children.

OP posts:
Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 11:09

Lindy2 · 26/06/2025 10:44

I think a lot of people are confusing 2 things.

  • A ban on phones in school - yes a good thing. I'm surprised that there are schools that still haven't already done this. Our phone ban has been in place for years.
  • A 3 day suspension for using a phone - no this is a disproportionate sanction, especially for a first offence.

Thank you. You are correct, the question was about the sanction for the offence, not the offence itself.

OP posts:
Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 11:08

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 09:03

@TooBored1 You are in the wrong school. Can you not get dc to another one not in the mat?

With respect, have you RTT?

OP posts:
caringcarer · 26/06/2025 11:07

It's not hard, if he doesn't break the rules he won't get suspended.

RedToothBrush · 26/06/2025 11:00

Digdongdoo · 26/06/2025 10:54

Schools have been fighting against phones with proportionate punishments for 15+ years, and it's only getting worse. I'm not sure what other choice they have at this point. Parents should be backing schools up, not questioning them.

Show quote history

This.

And it's why I back Draconian punishments on phones in schools.

The rules are not hard to follow.

Parents who have kids messaging them because they've forgotten x, complaining about X or for whatever other reason during school time use this as a reason to say that why the kid needs the phone instead of bollocking the kids for being feckless and telling them they need to deal with this when they get home and have a proper face to face conversation.

Parents and kids should understand that school hours are not for WhatsApping.

The parents completely undermine the school every time they do this.

Digdongdoo · 26/06/2025 10:54

Lindy2 · 26/06/2025 10:44

I think a lot of people are confusing 2 things.

  • A ban on phones in school - yes a good thing. I'm surprised that there are schools that still haven't already done this. Our phone ban has been in place for years.
  • A 3 day suspension for using a phone - no this is a disproportionate sanction, especially for a first offence.

Schools have been fighting against phones with proportionate punishments for 15+ years, and it's only getting worse. I'm not sure what other choice they have at this point. Parents should be backing schools up, not questioning them.

Lindy2 · 26/06/2025 10:44

I think a lot of people are confusing 2 things.

  • A ban on phones in school - yes a good thing. I'm surprised that there are schools that still haven't already done this. Our phone ban has been in place for years.
  • A 3 day suspension for using a phone - no this is a disproportionate sanction, especially for a first offence.
MoistVonL · 26/06/2025 09:20

I think it’s a very good consequence, to be honest. So heavy it will deter the majority of students from breaking it, which is that they want.
The amount of staff and class time wasted every day in policing phones is ridiculous. I imagine this harsh policy is hoping to wipe that out.

Will the suspended student be at home or in the exclusion unit for the three days ? They won’t be ‘denied education’ as they will have work assigned to them.

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 09:13

@TooBored1 Yes I see you said that but what about outside the city? Do buses go out? Can you commute out? Are you bordering a rural area? I’d move away! Who needs schools like this? Yes, some parents love these schools and believe draconian rules are needed, I believe dc are served better by firm but fair application of rules.

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 09:03

@TooBored1 You are in the wrong school. Can you not get dc to another one not in the mat?

Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 09:01

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 08:57

@Lindy2 Yes. It’s the symptom of a poorly run school. When schools have disruption they tend to make examples of some dc rather than working out what makes dc comply.

Agreed. Some kids have been taken out of school completely due to the failure to protect from bullying (on school premises) yet 99.5% turn up with ties on, so all is good.

OP posts:
Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 08:58

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 08:27

@PeppyLilacLion The reason schools have suspensions about phone use is that it’s much easier to come down hard, quickly, when they see a phone than it is to deal with bullying or insidious violence and threats. The phone is obvious to staff. They don’t see bullying and many schools overlook it and do the minimum needed to satisfy action as described in their anti bullying policies. It’s a symptom of the type of person teaching in some schools. A bit shallow, power crazy with a need to take the easy route at work. Obviously not all teachers and schools, but enough for it to be worrying.

Thank you, you have articulated a nagging concern I have re the MANAGEMENT of the MAT. The is a lot of emphasis on micro management of the kids, that doesn't seem to improve behaviour where it matters but allows the schools to claim they have met their KPI.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 08:57

@Lindy2 Yes. It’s the symptom of a poorly run school. When schools have disruption they tend to make examples of some dc rather than working out what makes dc comply.

Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 08:53

Vivienne1000 · 26/06/2025 04:58

I think Op should get a job as a low paid support worker in a large state school. After a few weeks of dealing with students and parents, you will start to have more empathy with decisions made. It’s getting to the point where no one will want to work in schools.

Do you know my work history?

FYI, I have worked in schools before, have had my fair share of crazy conversations with parents and have been physically attacked by pupils and threatened by parents.

Interestingly, in a school that banned mobile phones .......

OP posts:
Original poster
TooBored1 · 26/06/2025 08:51

TizerorFizz · 25/06/2025 23:57

@TooBored1 I think you misunderstood me earlier. I do think the suspension is too long and I suggested how you might complain about it. I also wrote about the consultation, I know there’s no precise policy at the moment but that won’t stop a head excluding a dc. They will just say DC wasn’t following instructions or similar. Heads can more or less do what they want regarding exclusions that governors cannot change. If DS was doing something the teacher didn’t want, then the school can punish for it. Don’t agree with it but you have explained what sort of school if is.

I would run a mile from this type of school. I cannot imagine pencil case checks. I think my DDs would have hated this. Can he go to a school outside this MAT? Sounds like you have little choice but I wouldn’t put dc through this.

Edited

Sadly, only one school in our city outside the MAT which has a religious qualification (we wouldn't qualify) followed by a tight catchment that we are outside.

OP posts:
Fearfulsaints · 26/06/2025 08:50

Lindy2 · 25/06/2025 17:37

Schools have a legal obligation to provide pupils with a suitable full time education.

I think a 3 day suspension for having a phone not in a locked pouch is too extreme and could be challenged on the basis that they are not providing the hours of education they are legally obliged to.

A 3 day suspension is a last resort and only suitable for extreme behaviour not a minor phone violation.

Does the school struggle with behaviour? Schools that go to extremes like this always make me suspicious that they're trying too hard to make it look like they are in control. Schools that really do have generally well behaved pupils don't need to make such a show of rules and consequences.

At my daughter's school they put phones in their bags on silent. The kids comply. If they use their phone it gets confiscated for the day. No need for locked pouches or suspensions.

Edited

They will set work for the suspension (or shoukd) to cover the full time education. This set work can be oak academy it doesn't have to be the lesson they would have received.

Helpmeplease2025 · 26/06/2025 08:48

TheignT · 26/06/2025 08:39

Well that will probably be a relief to the kids who want an education and the teachers who get abused trying to maintain order. Brilliant.

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This, tbh. If it means the disruptive kids with no interest in learning are at home, all the better for the ones who want to learn

TheignT · 26/06/2025 08:39

DrowningInSyrup · 25/06/2025 20:22

3 days suspension! I think that's ridiculous. I very much agree with no phones during the school day, but 3 days suspension is overkill. I'm guessing a lot of kids have just found a foolproof way of getting a few days at home.

Well that will probably be a relief to the kids who want an education and the teachers who get abused trying to maintain order. Brilliant.

TizerorFizz · 26/06/2025 08:27

@PeppyLilacLion The reason schools have suspensions about phone use is that it’s much easier to come down hard, quickly, when they see a phone than it is to deal with bullying or insidious violence and threats. The phone is obvious to staff. They don’t see bullying and many schools overlook it and do the minimum needed to satisfy action as described in their anti bullying policies. It’s a symptom of the type of person teaching in some schools. A bit shallow, power crazy with a need to take the easy route at work. Obviously not all teachers and schools, but enough for it to be worrying.

User32459 · 26/06/2025 08:21

Shouldn't even have phones in school, about time it stopped.

usedtobeaylis · 26/06/2025 08:18

Vivienne1000 · 26/06/2025 04:58

I think Op should get a job as a low paid support worker in a large state school. After a few weeks of dealing with students and parents, you will start to have more empathy with decisions made. It’s getting to the point where no one will want to work in schools.

There's definitely a lack of understanding of the effect of the disruption on teachers. Now if only they would all implement a parallel policy where they're getting off their phones AND getting more physical exercise at school, I think some things would improve.