A watch for a secondary school child

[SnowballedMum]

Hi Mumsnet

My DD is starting secondary school this September. I planned to allow her to take her mobile phone into school with her knowing that she will be responsible to not use it during the school day and lock it away. However if the proposed ban on mobiles is implemented could anyone recommend a watch that only has a GPS tracking function and tells the time.

The proposed ban on mobiles is on 'use in school' such as lessons and break-times. They would still be allowed to take a mobile phone with them (some schools ask for them to be handed in, some have an 'in bag switched off and unseen' rule).

Too many children rely on them for travelling to and from school and for extra curricular activities that I cannot see a ban covering that.

I think that the 'ban mobiles phones' was a headline grabber to distract people from more pressing issues. I hope that the appropriate people point out that the government should not be meddling in day to day issues such as this which should more rightly be left to head teachers.

DD's school already has a ban on phones in school. Those who want them for the journey to/from hand them in at the start of the day and collect at the end, and it seems to work very smoothly, even when they had to change to having a separate hand-in point for each year group because of covid.

So you can track her? Is that why you want GPS?

Like a smart watch
Or
eshop.v.vodafone.com/uk/neo-smart-kids-watch?cid=ppc-UK_19_AO_P_X_J_G_D_CBU_BAU_Drive_Text-Generic_Google_IOT_Voda_V-Kids-Watch_Core_Mix_Mix_NA_Exact-IoTUK_AlwaysOn&kpid=go_cmp-6447486370_adg-89401234078_ad-511131210426_kwd-335112373360_dev-m_ext-_prd-&vfadid=6447486370&gclid=CjwKCAjwrPCGBhALEiwAUl9X0yAyaGdqak6c726hS5xHAAY_u8QIuZ6g1Ar1sTHQq36Ymmzm3_XkGBoCc_EQAvD_BwE#mint

They can not ban children from having mobile phones turned off in their bags. They need them at that age for safety going to and from school. DS is in year 9 and hs never had to know the time at school. The bell goes you go to your next lesson etc etc until the end of the day when you turn your phone back on.

Thanks everyone. I do want a watch with GPD to track her movements
to and from school especially during the winter period when it is darker. I am glad to hear that they will be allowed to take the phones into schools.

I'm not sure secondary kids really wear watches any more. Most teens seem not to.

I don't know, but a Fitbit type has alarms you can programme with your mobile app. DS uses his for discreet reminders for music lessons, checking lost property etc without needing his phone. That's much more use from his point of view than one that just tells the time, when every classroom has a clock and bells tell you when lessons start and end.