AIBU to ask for advice on how to overturn a school decision - quickly

[Canwehavesesomesanityback]

What can I do to overturn a school decision - quickly? It is regarding mobile phones. The school has introduced a no phones at school policy. If a teacher is on a journey home and sees a child on a phone, they will “chase them down the street and snatch it out of their hand” as it shows they had a phone in school.

There was a horrible and frightening incident fairly near school today. So whilst school were busying themself with catching children out for taking a blazer off at a bus stop or using a phone after school, my child was involved in something bloody terrifying. I’ve been up half the night. It should involve the police, but we are not going down that road and time would have been of the essence anyway. My husband was driving about a minute away from her at the time, happily oblivious. I’m shaken up, but also feel in an impossible situation.

This occurred close to school, with a couple of friends, in daylight with people nearby. Her journey also includes much larger elements where she’s on her own and secluded. I’m really fucking angry and revolted too (huge understatement) that the school have the power to dictate the removal of a tool for use outside of school, compromising my child’s safety.

As a bare minimum, I want a brick phone allowed in school - turned off, handed in, confiscated if used or seen - I don’t care. I want them to find a way that the other 97% of schools do, so that my child has access to a phone, even if it’s just a brick phone, should she need it out of school.

They have lots of draconian rules, appear very rigid and authoritarian. I can grit my teeth on those. I cannot grit my teeth on this one. It’s a very large academy, gives the impression so far that “we are always right and totally trustworthy” and others will have it wrong or lie. Please help. How best to approach a school that seems terrified of giving an inch, (whilst it simultaneously encroaches the fuck and takes miles) to get an outcome that will make my child safer out of school.

If you’ve read this far, please help. I also believe from what I’ve seen so far that if I raise this, the school will frequently check my daughter’s bag. I am willing to now break the rules on this, but obviously can’t keep replacing mobiles and she shouldn’t have to be punished by school for it either.

This why in my PP I said that we have to teach our DC processes/options/strategies of what to do in dangerous/difficult situations.

Obviously in this case there were serious miscommunication issues which could have been catastrophic but an 8 year old child should know that their first option in this kind of situation is not to leave the school. Ever!

I actually remember reading or listening to a short story where this happened. Vaguely.

Phones after outside school yes, but also teaching them the importance of not being to locked into their phones when travelling alone as it can reduce their ability to be aware of their surroundings.

When my DGD 15 calls me on her way home from school for a chat, I need to know that she is focused on the journey home also.

If someone chased my child in the street and stole their property obviously I’d be reporting it to the police.

I don't see a copy of this communication posted so will have to assume it's made up

a) they're exempt, as are children with CGM devices.

b) staff have HAs as well. Guess what I can't do in front of children anymore?

Okay, well we differ, don’t we.

I wouldn’t want my teenagers walking home without a means to contact me.

Exactly this! It’s so much more dangerous switching on a phone the minute you leave school with your face glued to a screen and so much safer empowering kids to keep safe in other ways.

Sorry but just because we didn’t have phones in the 80s doesn’t mean they aren’t good for emergencies now. It’s such a stupid stupid argument. If something didn’t exist then it wasn’t an option, you had no choice. A phone can be just for text only, just for emergencies. It doesn’t need data if you are worried about online issues.

These posters shouldn’t use a phone now or anything you didn’t have growing up then yourself either, as you survived with an apple and a thruppeny bit in your raggedy smock.

The Adults in their life should be leading by example. I am as guilty as many others when it comes to my phone, babies are watching parents glued to their phones. No different from smoking and drinking around children, learned behaviour.
Most adults would not tolerate handing over their right hand.

Maybe everyone should put the phones away as they’re so dangerous.

Before you point out the difference between an adult and teenager, a lot of adults have lower level of maturity and intelligence than a teenager, with the ability to legally access the internet.

If you'd like to read the actual legislation.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10241/

I'm not sure why schools haven't more clearly communicated to parents that this is now compulsory and has nothing to do with their own policies.

It didn’t happen

You can get a smart watch that tracks your child’s location and has a button to call for help.

banning phones during a school commute is ridiculous- they are a tool for modern life, and if I like to have a phone for a 45min journey across London, then I want my 11 year old to have one too.

but you won’t be able to change school policy on this quickly so get a smart watch

Op hasn’t been back, funny that.

So they didn’t tell any of the parents or any of the children about the unforeseen cancellation, and then didn’t check when any of the 8yr olds (or other primary ages due to go to the ASC)walked out of the premises alone a few minutes later? That is a huge safeguarding fail, there must have been serious consequences for the school? At my dds primary, 8 yr olds weren’t allowed out of the classroom till the teacher saw the parent, and signalled they’re coming. Once that was done, the teacher gathered the ASC kids and walked them to the ASC hall for handover.

It’s theft, surely? If the teacher actually snatched the phone, laying hands on the child, it’s assault. I’ve worked in schools for 30 years and agree that rules should in general be followed. The teacher has no authority outside school. I would be furious if I happen to one of mine.
I live on the Devon/Somerset border and many kids have to travel through fairly isolated/remote areas to get to school. My grandchildren will have to. Our local schools have adopted the phone pouch policy; it’s working well.
You’re right, nobody actually ‘needs’ a phone, but it’s infinitely preferable (and safer) to carry one.

They’re banned in most schools.

If my dds school is anything to go by, anything ‘smart’ (phones, watches or otherwise) are all now banned.

But there are no phone boxes now. What's your point?

School can't change the policy. It's a government policy. It isn't within one school's power to change.

Just get her a phone, tell her to keep it switched off in the bottom of her bag and to just switch it on and keep it in her pocket when she is walking home. Teachers will not chase children in the community who have a phone out. I am a teacher and my secondary doesn’t allow phones, but we all know the kids have them at the bottom of their bags for the walk home. As if we have time to chase children walking home 🤣🤣

Well no one has signed up OPs campaign “to overturn a school decision - quickly”.

Instead a reasonable conversation is being had about the subject of which we all have strong and valid concerns about.

How do you think children managed going to and from school before mobile phones were commonplace? I always had a fairly long journey to school from the age of seven, long before mobile phones were even mentioned as being something of the future on Tomorrow’s World. Mobile phones are not essential for anyone. There might not be as many phone boxes as there used to be, but there are still several in working order within easy walking distance from my house, just as an example.

Yeah, exactly. No way on earth, am I accosting a child in my own time outside school. The school can mandate it. They can't make me.

Also, @Canwehavesesomesanityback, you're on a hiding to nowhere trying to take on a big academy chain. They don't care. All they care about is profit.

if a teacher is on a journey home and sees a child on a phone, they will ‘chase the down the street and snatch it out of their hand’

Where have you got this quotation from?

@Canwehavesesomesanityback

What was the "something bloody terrifying" which happened to your daughter, OP?