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Original poster

New phone policy

85 replies

whoknewitwouldbethiscrazy · 01/09/2022 22:22

My ds is going into Yr11, his school has intoduced a very severe mobile phone/smart watch policy. They must not have phones/smart watches/headphones visible (even outline in a pocket) inside the school gates. They tried to make it on the buses too but seem to have backed down on that one. The sanctions are; 1st offence - phone/watch confiscated until the following Friday (so potentially 2 weeks) + isolation for 1 day; 2nd offence - phone/watch confiscated for 1 calendar month + 3 days isolation; 3rd offence - phone/watch confiscated until the end of that half term + 5 day isolation. Refusal to hand over the phone/watch means exclusion and then the sanction. Leaving aside the fact that if they don't break this new rule they don't have anything to worry about, does anyone know if it's legal for a school to confiscate a phone/watch for up to 7 weeks? My son has worked really hard to save up for a Garmin watch ( not sure if they will even view that as a smart watch) and would refuse to hand it over. He has a very strong sense of right and wrong and would definitely refuse, he is really angry about this new policy, even though he's rarely been in trouble. I am really worried for his final school year. Any advice? Thanks

OP posts:
Whatwouldscullydo · 02/09/2022 08:54

Hes year 11 not a nervous yr 7 about to get lost on their first day. What's he need Garmin watch at school for?

Seriously we all survived with the talking clock and/or a a cheap analogue watch.

He will be fine without it. He can wear it the rest of the time.

JubileeTissues · 02/09/2022 08:54

I'd love this rule. Makes sense.

He can wear a standard watch for school

justaladyLOL · 02/09/2022 08:52

Good thing
Why does child need to have a phone on at school
If he is not in lessons he should be socialising and making real friends not fake nonsense o na screen

abovedecknotbelow · 02/09/2022 08:50

It's a good rule. He he has such a sense of right and wrong he'll follow the rules won't he?

ElephantsintheCupboard · 02/09/2022 08:49

Well, could he just not take a normal watch to school then?

I don't know the legal ins and outs about it but it does seem a bit strange that schools are allowed to confiscate pupils' possessions for longer than a school day

AuntieStella · 02/09/2022 08:48

You need to email to ask about the Garmin - and specify which model. Even the basic GPS models can be set to show notifications from the phone, and the more advanced ones have more 'smart' functions. So they may well fall foul of the ban.

No I don't know what a reasonable length of confiscation is - the policy you describe seems excessive.

Damnautocorrect · 02/09/2022 08:48

My childrens school is the same. They soon learn

TeenDivided · 02/09/2022 08:44

I think it isn't too hard to not wear a smart watch (banned in exams etc anyway) and keep your phone out of sight in your bag. No point banning phones but allowing smart watches.

If they are going to have an 'out of sight' rule then they probably feel they need strict deterrents to show they are serious about it.

PAFMO · 02/09/2022 08:41

If he's that attached to his posh watch, then he won't break the rules to risk losing it.

DaffodilGreen · 02/09/2022 08:39

DDs school had similar policy all through and it really helped crack down on bullying and their GCSE results were through the roof this summer as no phone distractions in class.

They only had a week as max confiscation but parents could come in to get the phone before then if they asked. Many times the school would say that instead of confiscation, the child could hand it in to the office before school and collect afterwards. That was a good compromise.

Overall a complete ban on phones being seen in school was wonderful.

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