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Secondary education

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Original poster

What is your secondary school’s stance on mobile phones?

100 replies

parrotonmyshoulder · 14/10/2021 06:49

DC’s schools are allowed them at all times. Some teachers have ‘no phones in lessons’ rules, others have ‘no phones when I’m talking’ rules. I’ve only known the school since Covid and DD seemed to think they ‘had’ to have them in lessons to access google classroom etc.
Kids of all year groups have them at break times.
I can’t understand how they can manage safeguarding under these circumstances. It’s an enormous school.
I’ve been concerned for a while but currently have a very upset child (y8) who has been shown something that stops her sleeping or being in a room alone. Nothing actually bad in this case (easily afraid and generally anxious - we’re dealing with this) but absolutely could have been a pornographic or otherwise illegal/ image or clip.
I know I won’t be getting a whole policy change, but don’t really know what to say to school. I thought that we had educated DD well on this stuff, and she thought she knew what to do - but when in a new group, trying to fit in, being a kid, she made the wrong decision.

OP posts:
onemouseplace · 14/10/2021 07:26

Ours is supposed to be a no phones turned on at school and in a locked locked all day rule.

Only the school uses Teams a lot for messaging and there have been a couple of times already (DD is Y7) that DD missed something important because she had her phone turned off, so she has hers just on silent now (I’m going to speak to her form tutor about the mixed messaging there).

Scoutingformygirls · 14/10/2021 07:30

Our school is very strict and I'm really glad of it.

Phones are only to be used off the premises and out of school time. So basically on journey to and from.

Any phone taken into school has to be switched off and out of sight. If seen or heard it will be confiscated and returned to a parent.

I really hope school continue with this hard-line.

itsgettingwierd · 14/10/2021 07:32

Of she didn't shown it in school then she'll be sent a link or shown it on the way home.

My ds school had the same kind of rules as yours it sounds like.

I taught him personal safety. If you don't want to look at something on someone's phone as you aren't sure if the content - refuse.

If someone sends you inappropriate content - report.

And if your stupid enough to get involved In sending or watching inappropriate stuff - then enjoy the consequences Wink

Original poster
parrotonmyshoulder · 14/10/2021 07:35

@itsgettingwierd
‘And if your stupid enough to get involved In sending or watching inappropriate stuff - then enjoy the consequences’

Bit too simplistic I think.

OP posts:
cricketmum84 · 14/10/2021 07:35

Turned off and kept in bags all day. Although I have had the occasional sneaky text from the toilets if I've forgotten to top up parent pay!

Last year they could have them switched on just in case a member of their family tested positive and they needed to isolate but they were expected to still keep them in their bags.

Blueemeraldagain · 14/10/2021 07:37

I teach in a small SEMH school and our students hand their phones in when they arrive to school. We have a metal detector at the student entrance so it is difficult (but not impossible) to get your phone in. On the rare occasion someone gets a phone in it is kept until a parent/carer comes to collect it.

RoseAndRose · 14/10/2021 07:41

Phones have to be off and out of sight at all times except:

a) during lessons when a teacher has directed their use
b) sixth formers within the sixth form centre building only

If someone needs to make a call for exceptional reasons, they need a teacher's permission and must make it from the school reception area

Throughabushbackwards · 14/10/2021 07:44

Phones handed in to form tutor every morning and locked up all day.

Original poster
parrotonmyshoulder · 14/10/2021 07:44

The atmosphere in school must be so different in the schools that limit/ don’t allow phones.
Having read the trust policy, it seems their view is that because phones are an ‘important part of young people’s social lives’ they should be available in school.

OP posts:
AnneElliott · 14/10/2021 07:45

DS school has a policy called 'off and away'. They're not allowed to get them out while on school premises even on break time.

RedskyThisNight · 14/10/2021 07:49

DC's school allow phones in lessons if agreed by the teacher (e.g. to use the camera or apps) and during break times only in break areas (i.e. not in the corridors).

It's not really relevant to OP's problem though- her DC could have been shown the material at any time out of school.

Toastandcrumpets · 14/10/2021 07:53

I don’t know about social life but I don’t like draconian policies around phones .

They are a part of life and children should be taught and encouraged to use them responsibly.

Original poster
parrotonmyshoulder · 14/10/2021 07:54

It is relevant, actually. I didn’t ask for help with the problem - that’s a different thread. I asked what other schools did.

Being shown the material outside school is different. Social groups are different.

OP posts:
Original poster
parrotonmyshoulder · 14/10/2021 07:55

‘ They are a part of life and children should be taught and encouraged to use them responsibly’

But they are not being taught and encouraged this. That’s my point. They are using them continuously.

OP posts:
drpaddington · 14/10/2021 07:55

Information sent from the school states that phones should be turned off while of school grounds and kept at the bottom of students bags. In reality, they're expected to use them in some lessons, download apps for both classwork and homework. All homework is set on an app.

busybanana · 14/10/2021 07:55

@MissyB1

At ds school they all hand in their phones at registration, the phones are put in a locked box until the end of the day. Sanctions for anyone who does not hand their phone in.
This is the same at dd's school. I did think it was a bit draconian at first, but having thought about all the safeguarding issues, I'm happy with it.
Toastandcrumpets · 14/10/2021 07:56

Yes, I didn’t really mean you specifically @parrotonmyshoulder just a general point.

Humanahumana · 14/10/2021 07:57

No phones out of bag on school premises here, and I’m very glad about it. I do think Ofsted will recommend banning them in school soon. www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jun/29/education-secretary-wants-ban-on-mobile-phones-in-english-schools

RedskyThisNight · 14/10/2021 07:57

@parrotonmyshoulder

It is relevant, actually. I didn’t ask for help with the problem - that’s a different thread. I asked what other schools did.

Being shown the material outside school is different. Social groups are different.

Phones have this ability to send material to another phone. So if a child showed your DC something in school, they can just as easily send her a link (or a picture) out of school.
I was trying to make the point that even with a no phones in school policy, your DC will likely see stuff you don't want her to.
LetItGoHome · 14/10/2021 08:01

My son has his phone turned on and on him at all times. He also looks at it whenever he needs to throughout lessons.
He needs his phone to help manage a medical condition.
There are now more and more children needing them for legit reasons. They can't be banned in schools. Kids need access to technology for many reasons.

cricketmum84 · 14/10/2021 08:05

@LetItGoHome

My son has his phone turned on and on him at all times. He also looks at it whenever he needs to throughout lessons. He needs his phone to help manage a medical condition. There are now more and more children needing them for legit reasons. They can't be banned in schools. Kids need access to technology for many reasons.
Yes that's a really good point actually.

Is he diabetic with a Libre?

lanthanum · 14/10/2021 09:50

Mobile phones not allowed in school. Those who travel on buses or need them after school for other reasons hand them in on arrival and collect at the end of the day. It does make life a lot simpler.

ZaZathecat · 14/10/2021 10:05

That they only existed in science fiction!

Mumdiva99 · 14/10/2021 10:08

My kids used to be allowed them. It was good for photographing homework tasks, looking at timetables and music lesson time tables, reminding them to go to music lessons, etc etc. They could use them at break or lunch. Now though - no phones to be seen at school at all. It's good because it forces the kids to interact at breaks and lunch. But bad because of all the good bits. However ...school must have had a good reason for the change so my kids just leave the phone at home. No temptation to touch it then.

RunningToHeaven · 14/10/2021 10:18

The official line is that if phones are brought to school they mustn’t be used on school premises.

The reality is that some teachers let children use them for work or to take a photo of work. Fine with me. But in the playground teachers take no notice when kids are on their phones. When there’s a playground fight, many kids film it on their phone, the footage is put on social media and nothing is done. 🙄 All sorts of things are looked at and passed around. The teachers stand no chance of policing it.

I hope your daughter is ok.