To be unhappy my child's phone was confiscated?

[Phoneproblems]

I have no issues with the phone itself being confiscated but apparently it is only to be returned on Friday - surely this cannot be right?

effectively what the school thought they could do here

Pretty sure the head didn’t pop round the OP’s house and nick her iPhone. Schools have the right to impose sanctions on pupils when they are under their control.

@moussemoose

I wouldn't let the child sit the exam. They should be removed by force if necessary.

Schools do have the power to confiscate.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/searching-screening-and-confiscation

www.google.com/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/whats-the-law-on-confiscating-a-pupils-mobile-phone/amp/

Jazzy talks nonsense and is probably one of those people who would kick of at school claiming being kept behind for 3 minutes at lunch was breaking her child's human rights because their child opted not to use the rest of lunch hour to eat.

Ask any teacher and you'll find trying to reason with people like Jazzy is a total waste of time and breath. How else do you think local papers get their share of 'sad face' school stories.

@MaisyPops

They do have the power to confiscate but not to hold for days.

The general power to discipline (as described in the bullets under the heading “Discipline in Schools – Teachers’ Powers” on pages 3 and 4) enables a member of staff to confiscate, retain or dispose of a pupil’s property as a punishment, so long as it is reasonable in the circumstances. The law protects them from liability for damage to, or loss of, any confiscated items provided they have acted lawfully8. The legislation does not describe what must be done with the confiscated item and the school behaviour policy may set this out “

So if the school behaviour policy says that the phone can be confiscated till Friday then there’s no problem.

Oh dear... I really feel for schools. Clear policies in place, children with mobiles out in school taking pictures etc a nightmare...so if the policy says confiscate and get back Friday that seems fair. Parents should attempt to support this since far too much time is wasted constantly telling pupils not to have phones on them in school...but alas they don't listen...hence the policy...which leads to annoyed parents....

Yes @JazzyBlues the entitled child was removed from the exam but they had still disrupted it for other pupils. My point being if you give your child a sense of entitled belief that they can do whatever they want it impacts on other people.

Disgraceful attitude. What example are you showing your child? Parents like you are the reason Teachers are struggling with disaplin.

@Moussemoose

My DC are far from entitled. They both know that education comes first, and that I will support the school if they're misbehaving or not working hard. As I said, the phone would have been removed for longer.

However, I do draw the line at the school thinking they can withhold my own property from me for a set time. That simply wouldn't be happening.

Headteachers like my last HT pander to parents like the OP and Jazzy. Anything to placate parents and nothing done to back their staff.

jazzy
You don't get what people are saying or you are being deliberately obtuse and argumentative... we CAN confiscate items and hold them in line with school policy.

(Bangs head against a brick wall)

Ahhh I see, it's not your children who are entitled it's you.

Schools make and enforce rules like this to stop parents supporting their children's misbehaviour so it will not impact on others. It's not about you, it's about supporting the school community to prevent disruption to education.

Entitled parents and entitled children.

Best take what jazzy says with a pinch of salt. She's also been telling people being 15 mins late for pickup would lead to social services being called

Think the point is that the school clearly HASN’T enforced it because the OP has already got her phone back!

If the school is right on this one and they’re perfectly entitled to take the course of action they did I can’t see why they would return the item so easily. Unless of course it’s because it was the reasonable thing to do?

Whether the OP chose to return the phone to her DC straight away or not is their business, noone else’s and just because you would discipline differently doesn’t make you right and the OP wrong.

Always amazed at how quickly people start judging and making personal attacks on here sigh

If the school is right on this one and they’re perfectly entitled to take the course of action they did I can’t see why they would return the item so easily. Unless of course it’s because it was the reasonable thing to do?
Sadly, there are some senior leaders who insist staff follow policy but then roll over for their tumny tickling the second a confrontational and arsey parent turns up.

So staff can be more than in the right, but some schools have fhe culture of 'the most obnoxious parent gets their own way'. Attitude and behaviour are often poor in those schools.

I'd be angry, because the reason my DD will have a phone will be so I can contact her if she's late home from school or anything.

@MaisyPops

A school policy is just that- a policy. I could equally make up a JazzyBlues policy on phones. That doesn't mean it would override the law.

Yes Maisy ecactly
Schools like the last one I taught in.

At my school kids are urged not to bring them into school and if they do parents have to sign waver stating if phone gets lost or damaged school not responsible. Any kid can ask office to look after phone in safe during school day. They put it envelope with kids name on. If kids use in school time whether in lessons or lunch or break phone confiscated for 1 day firs time, a week second time and if a third time parents must collect and agree to leave in office through day and collect at home time for rest of term. Your kid should not have phone in school and if she does should hand in to office during day.

Oh and MaisyPops, schools do have policies regarding referrals to social services for lateness as it’s a safeguarding issue.

, Jazzy would have been a Signposted Parent in my last school. The pushy obnoxious ones all were.

jazzy
I know what a policy is.

The government make it perfectly clear that schools can confiscate and act according to their policy. In addition to that, by law schools are also not liable for any issues or damage with confiscated property either.

You may not LIKE the situation but it is what it is.

Dorsetdays
Not 10 mins for the first time late though.