Does anyone know the legal position on schools confiscating phones for long periods?

[mintlamb]

I am a teacher myself and I don’t know.

One of my groups are writing a speech about why they should be allowed to bring their phones to school, and I was explaining in my last school phones were confiscated until the end of the week for a first offence and end of the term for a second one.

A few of them asked if that was allowed and I guess it must be as I know of a few schools with this policy or similar. I must admit I don’t know where the legal position is if the phone belongs to the parent though. Wondering if anyone here knows so I can tell them next time I see them

Don’t parents have to sign something to say they agree to the policy? If so, I’d suspect the school is covered legally. Nor a lawyer, though!

Keeping someone's belongings for that length of time doesn't feel very legally sound in my opinion.

As an adult, if my phone was taken by someone and not returned when I asked I'd be reporting it to the Police as theft.

I fully agree with no phones at school. That gets my full support. I don't agree with schools believing they are above the law.

Hopefully a legal person can give their opinion.