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Secondary education

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Original poster

New phone policy

85 replies

whoknewitwouldbethiscrazy · 01/09/2022 22:22

My ds is going into Yr11, his school has intoduced a very severe mobile phone/smart watch policy. They must not have phones/smart watches/headphones visible (even outline in a pocket) inside the school gates. They tried to make it on the buses too but seem to have backed down on that one. The sanctions are; 1st offence - phone/watch confiscated until the following Friday (so potentially 2 weeks) + isolation for 1 day; 2nd offence - phone/watch confiscated for 1 calendar month + 3 days isolation; 3rd offence - phone/watch confiscated until the end of that half term + 5 day isolation. Refusal to hand over the phone/watch means exclusion and then the sanction. Leaving aside the fact that if they don't break this new rule they don't have anything to worry about, does anyone know if it's legal for a school to confiscate a phone/watch for up to 7 weeks? My son has worked really hard to save up for a Garmin watch ( not sure if they will even view that as a smart watch) and would refuse to hand it over. He has a very strong sense of right and wrong and would definitely refuse, he is really angry about this new policy, even though he's rarely been in trouble. I am really worried for his final school year. Any advice? Thanks

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 02/09/2022 10:11

RaRaRaspoutine · 02/09/2022 09:59

You can turn off message and calls alerts on all smartwatches, inc Garmin ones.

Well yes, but school won't know who has or hasn't turned messages off, will they?

hedgehogger1 · 02/09/2022 11:03

Phones are a massive distraction in schools. In mine only 6th form are allowed them visible and even then they cause massive issues in focus and learning

nicknamehelp · 02/09/2022 11:23

My 2 had same rules and coped with leaving phone in bags all day. If they needed to contact me would pop to office to make call. With watches they aren't allowed in exams so not wearing them to school will mean not accidentally left on in an exam

Hercisback · 02/09/2022 11:26

He just doesn't take the watch to school, simple.

Great policy, wish I worked there!

Marblessolveeverything · 02/09/2022 11:29

I appreciate what the school is trying to do. And this may not be appropriate - in my secondary school (Ireland) we had students unions which came together with issues and proposals to the school management. Is there something close to it in your sons school where he can "fight the system" appropriately - just an idea to encourage him to challenge rules in an appropriate manner?

CoraContrary · 02/09/2022 11:37

At my school, any phones left in bags were stolen. I wouldn't want my daughter to be having her phone stolen.

Also, they may need a phone for a variety of reasons. Some have a trek home and parents like to be able to contact them or the other way round should anythjng happen. Phones are part of our lives now. As are watches. We may have survived with a basic analogue watch and no phone but I feel safer knowing my daughter can contact me safely at any time.

How about the rules are that phones and watches are used responsibly. They can't be used in lesson as they must pay attention and crack down on the bullying that happens using them by teaching the kids well?! Or is that too much hard work for teachers and parents nowadays?

Gemswaitingfoottap · 02/09/2022 11:38

Dc's school have had this rule for years. Phones must be in your bag before you enter school grounds and on silent. They are confiscated if they go off or if you are seen to have it out. Not allowed to have them in your trouser pockets, no blazers so no other place to put them except in your bag. Never had an issue for either my children.

Dc's phone are on an automatic silent setting for school hours so no chance of it going off in their bag either. Their classes never needed mobile phones. Logging onto school apps was done in a computer room with a teacher stood at the back being able to see everyone's screens so no messing around.

Your son has 1 year left, suck it up. He can wear his watch when he isn't in school. Plus no watches are allowed at all in any exams. Doesn't matter if they are not a smart watch, they don't want to waste their time policing it.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 02/09/2022 11:41

RaRaRaspoutine · 02/09/2022 09:59

You can turn off message and calls alerts on all smartwatches, inc Garmin ones.

But will you?

iamjustwinginglife · 02/09/2022 12:04

Same policy as my children school. They have messaged me from the toilet before now but generally they keep to "no phones." There must be bc a reason why the school has ramped this policy up

itrytomakemyway · 02/09/2022 12:24

Phones are the bane of modern teaching. Kids just cannot keep off them - even for the duration of one lesson. They are a distraction from learning. The time wasted on monitoring phones is valuable teaching and learning time down the drain. And it is always the same response from those who support their use - my child needs it for an emergency. No, not in a lesson they don't. Schools have telephones. You can contact the office to get a message to you child. No child needs to be contactable by mobile phone 24/7.

ThanksItHasPockets · 02/09/2022 12:29

does anyone know if it's legal for a school to confiscate a phone/watch for up to 7 weeks

Yes. They have made the consequence absolutely clear. schoolsweek.co.uk/whats-the-law-on-confiscating-a-pupils-mobile-phone/

Honestly OP you sound a bit scared of your son’s reaction.

howshouldibehave · 02/09/2022 12:36

He has a very strong sense of right and wrong

So, presumably he knows right and wrong here and is aware that the school rules are not to have Smart watches in school, so will be leaving it at home?

If he knows he’s not allowed it, but intends to wear it anyway, he appears not to know the difference between right and wrong!

Apl · 02/09/2022 12:39

supersonicginandtonic · 02/09/2022 08:59

I don't think it's a good rule at all. I personally think it's completely wrong and they have no right to confiscate phones, it's personal property. I'd be straight up to school to pick it up.
My friends daughter had to use hers to tell her mum she was in the toilets at school, terrified of the girls outside threatening to beat her up.
Kids have had to message parents to say buses haven't shown up.
That they're Poorly because school are that focused on attendance they won't send poorly kids home.
Obviously if they have them out in lesson, they should face consequences but that policy is extreme. It's about time schools started focusing time on learning rather than uniform abs phones all the time.

This. Phones are a safety issue. Totally agree with no phones out in class / playroom but confiscating them for weeks is morally wrong.

I would also be very interested in the legal position but it’s shockingly difficult to find out what children’s legal rights at school are.

ThanksItHasPockets · 02/09/2022 13:07

I’m absolutely persuaded by the safety argument for phones for secondary-aged children but there is no reason for that phone to be a smartphone.

MrsWooster · 02/09/2022 13:12

Support the school. He can wear his watch on the way to school, put it in his bag switched off, and put it back on when he’s left school.
You’re setting him up to fail.

Antarcticant · 02/09/2022 13:16

Can't you get him a v. cheap basic £20 phone that will fulfil any safety needs, then if it is confiscated he will still have his main phone to use outside school? Same with watch.

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 02/09/2022 13:31

supersonicginandtonic · 02/09/2022 08:59

I don't think it's a good rule at all. I personally think it's completely wrong and they have no right to confiscate phones, it's personal property. I'd be straight up to school to pick it up.
My friends daughter had to use hers to tell her mum she was in the toilets at school, terrified of the girls outside threatening to beat her up.
Kids have had to message parents to say buses haven't shown up.
That they're Poorly because school are that focused on attendance they won't send poorly kids home.
Obviously if they have them out in lesson, they should face consequences but that policy is extreme. It's about time schools started focusing time on learning rather than uniform abs phones all the time.

A Nokia 105 is £21 from Argos at the moment with £10 PAYG credit, which would likely last them until the end of y11. 35 days battery life so only needs charging once a month, virtually indestructible so can happily sit in the bottom of their school bag, so cheap and simple that it is not a target for thieves.

None of the situations you describe require a smartphone. They can have a smartphone for evenings and weekends.

CoraContrary · 02/09/2022 13:34

Why should we have to get our kids two phones for some school policy that has no logical purpose?

Yes no phones in class or even at break time but above that, none of their business.

TeenDivided · 02/09/2022 13:39

CoraContrary · 02/09/2022 13:34

Why should we have to get our kids two phones for some school policy that has no logical purpose?

Yes no phones in class or even at break time but above that, none of their business.

You don't.
Tell your child to follow school rules re phones and they won't be confiscated and thus they don't need two phones.

LionessesRules · 02/09/2022 13:39

The rule is appropriate.
The sanctions are ridiculous.

I agree with end of school day for first offense. Parental collection on second offense.
But upto 7 weeks is heading towards theft.@Allthegoodnamesarechosen

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 02/09/2022 13:41

Why does anyone think it’s normal for an eleven-year-old to wander around with hundreds of pounds worth of technology on their person? (I know OP’s DS is y11; this is a broader point about secondary).

LionessesRules · 02/09/2022 13:48

Many apologies for tagging you, allthegood. I didn't mean to.

LimboLass · 02/09/2022 13:49

I am really worried for his final school year. Any advice? Thanks

Yes. Tell him to keep his phone in his bag then he has nothing to worry about. Or even leave it at home. I managed 13 years of school without a mobile I am sure he can too.

supersonicginandtonic · 02/09/2022 14:37

@YippieKayakOtherBuckets way to go to get a child the victim of bullying. Do you have teenagers? You do realise even the wrong bag can make them a target don't you? Kids can be vile

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 02/09/2022 14:47

Why are people using "very strong sense of right and wrong" as a "well he'll know to follow the rules then" gotcha? Not to get all Godwin on this, but "right and wrong" and "the rules" are not always in perfect alignment.