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Secondary education

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Enforcing parental controls on phone

16 replies

Lolacat1234 · 09/05/2023 19:38

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can help and is more tech savvy than I am! My sons school does spot checks on their phones to ensure parental controls are set up. They sent out a guide at the beginning of term on how to set up parental controls and I followed it to the letter. My son had a spot check today and they were able to access gambling websites on his phone. I got a call from the deputy head and said I've done everything I was told to do but I'll have another look this evening and try to work out what else I need to do.

So when my son returned from school I double checked everything and all controls are in place. I rang up my mobile phone network provider and asked them and they basically said not every website is able to be filtered. I double checked the obviously adult related content and he is definitely restricted from accessing pornography or anything of that nature.

I mean in order to gamble you have to be over 18 as they check you on the electoral register and if they can't match you up you have to send verification documents so the whole thing is a bit of a farce to be honest!

I've explained to the school via email what my network provider said, but what else can I do to ensure he doesn't get his phone confiscated at another of these checks? I've done literally everything they told me to do to block adult content!

Does anyone know if that's actually true that some websites just slip through the filters, or is that just what my mobile phone company told me to get me off the phone?

OP posts:
Lolacat1234 · 10/05/2023 16:09

Hopeful bump?

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EduCated · 10/05/2023 17:42

That is wild. I’ve never heard of a school spot checking phones in that way!

I would contact the deputy head and ask what they were able to access, because unfortunately you’ve not been able to replicate the same issue at home. Can you see in the browser history what site it was?

But the mobile network are correct, no filter is infallible.

Mojoj · 10/05/2023 17:44

What's it got to do with his school? Parental controls are exactly that - for the parent to decide what they look like, not his school!

GrazingSheep · 10/05/2023 17:49

What's it got to do with his school?

Well, in almost every situation where there are issues with phones, the standard advice seems to be to tell the school so that they can sort it out.
Maybe this particular school is fed up and is taking a proactive approach.

CeliaNorth · 10/05/2023 18:00

what else can I do to ensure he doesn't get his phone confiscated at another of these checks?

Tell him not to take his phone to school?

Lolacat1234 · 10/05/2023 20:37

I mean I get it - they have explained to parents that they feel it's extremely important to protect their pupils from the harm that porn and adult content can do to young children (my son is 12). But I can't do any more than what I've done, I've tried searching for porn hub (LOL!) and it does come up as restricted so I'm satisfied with that and don't really care about the gambling websites. I think they are just searching them as a check as it's inappropriate to search for porn on a kids phone just to check it's working!! Lol. My son tells me half the class just say they don't have their phone with them at school just to get out of the checks as they don't go rooting in their bags for them. Bless him, my son handed his over as he was 100% confident I had done all the right things and it wouldn't come up. I've since spoken to a few mum friends who have said the same happens with their kids phones with the gambling websites even though they have all the right content filter settings.

I've emailed the school anyway and not had a response, if I get one I'll be sure to post back!

OP posts:
Lolacat1234 · 10/05/2023 20:39

EduCated · 10/05/2023 17:42

That is wild. I’ve never heard of a school spot checking phones in that way!

I would contact the deputy head and ask what they were able to access, because unfortunately you’ve not been able to replicate the same issue at home. Can you see in the browser history what site it was?

But the mobile network are correct, no filter is infallible.

It was Betfred I think, and the teacher deliberately searches for it as a check. I've tried to block this specific site but I can't work out how to do it with my provider.

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Lolacat1234 · 10/05/2023 20:40

CeliaNorth · 10/05/2023 18:00

what else can I do to ensure he doesn't get his phone confiscated at another of these checks?

Tell him not to take his phone to school?

I would but it's useful for him to have it - I'm now giving him a lot more independence to do things after school whilst I'm in the office working now so I like for him to be able to contact me if he needs to and vice versa.

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Magnoliainbloom · 11/05/2023 22:42

I wish our school would do this. I think it’s impressive yours take it take this seriously.

SheilaFentiman · 11/05/2023 22:44

What kind of phone is it?

Lolacat1234 · 12/05/2023 07:36

It's an iPhone X

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Lolacat1234 · 12/05/2023 07:37

Magnoliainbloom · 11/05/2023 22:42

I wish our school would do this. I think it’s impressive yours take it take this seriously.

I'm actually not against it at all, just wondering how to actually enforce it properly as it appears most mobile phone carriers only filter out pornography not betting websites. Also found he can access things like online dating which apparently should only be for over 18s as the filters on my provider let those through too!

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rainuntilseptember · 12/05/2023 07:39

I can't imagine how any teacher has the time to do this. Do they honestly do a search for pornography on a minor's phone?

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 12/05/2023 08:00

What school has time to do this??? Mental

Sorry not helpful @op

OnMyWayToSenility · 12/05/2023 10:00

Buy him a cheap pay as you go phone for school with no internet access.
Tesco sell them.

Lolacat1234 · 12/05/2023 21:27

rainuntilseptember · 12/05/2023 07:39

I can't imagine how any teacher has the time to do this. Do they honestly do a search for pornography on a minor's phone?

I wish they would just search for porn hub so they could see it's restricted!! They obv can't do that as it's totally inappropriate so they search gambling websites instead which can apparently get through the filters!

Anyway the school replied today saying they are satisfied I have the right filters on his phone now and thanked me for being proactive.

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