Does your child's school restrict mobile phone usage?

[Toughlove70]

Do any of your kids' schools ban phones during school day including breaks? What are the penalties if pupils don't comply? Can you advise the name of the school so we can check the policy? We are in Scotland and virtually no schools ban phones and they say it is not effective in practise... we disagree... thanks

Students have full phone access during breaks.

each teacher sets classroom policy. A few have numbered phone cubbies they have students place phones in, some require phones in bags, some actually ask phones be on desks upside-down. It was pointed out to parents that the 3rd option seems to reduce student anxiety because some kids like to stroke them, but also lets teachers see that the phones aren’t being used under the desks.

Teachers often ask students to use phones in class, despite every student also having a very nice school issued laptop.

parents no longer call the school if we need to communicate with our student. We are told to text them.

The trouble with handing phones in every day for safekeeping is that there might be as many as 1500 pupils in a secondary school - and they will all want to leave asap at the end of the day! Even in my day, a very long time ago, the little dears were using brick phones to synchronise a mid-lesson loo break for a fag and a chat, via text...

In no way whatsoever would having a phone visible reduce anxiety. Why should a teacher have to compete for attention with a phone sitting out on a desk? All of the above is awful, I’d be really bothered about a school who seemed to do nothing to reduce the use, particularly concerning that as a parent you’re asked to text your child?!

Total phone ban on school grounds. Have to be kept switched off in bag, including break and lunch times.
If pupil is seen with phone they are confiscated for 24 hours, parent emailed and points taken from student.
Seems quite effective.

Same as this. In England.

it all works just fine at my child’s school. I found the policy shocking when it was described, but the school treats them like they can behave and for the most part they do.

Yes all schools near me ban phones. My DS school allows them to be switched off in the bag, so they it can be used on the way to and from. DS doesn't bother taking his unless there's a special reason, like going somewhere with a friend after school.

I used to work in a college that allowed phones and it was a nightmare. Students constantly on phones in lessons, and all sorts of drama caused by messages sent during breaks etc. So I'm strongly in favour of phones being banned during the whole school day.

Yes, recent introduction of "On site, out of sight". It came in about a year ago, and DS has subsequently started to going to additional lunchtime extracurricular clubs as he can't stare at his phone any more. I am a big fan.

I’m in England.

Phone policy at DC’s secondary school is that phones have to be switched off and kept out of sight while on school grounds.

If phones are heard or seen, then the phone is confiscated and has to be collected by a parent. Repeat offences result in detentions as well as the phone confiscation.

At DS' school they are collected in in morning reception and handed out again at registration after lunch.

They are not allowed to be switched on in school and if it is seen it is confiscated.

They can have them but they must be off. They have to ask permission to make a call or text home and do it in front of a staff member. At primary, they could have them in year 6 if they were walking home alone but they were handed in and kept locked away and returned at the end of the school day.

They like to stroke them!!! WTF am I reading. A comfort object? Like a dummy or a blankie?
We expect our neurotypical 5 year olds to leave these things at home!
Yet again left wondering how I survived my 80s childhood. But gaining greater insight into the rise in teen mental health issues.

Phones not to be taken out of bags at all while on school grounds. But then some teachers tell pupils to look stuff up on their phone during lessons. Mixed messages really.

No confiscation policy as we are rural and it’s considered a safety issue - although I think it’s more for the safety of the headmaster who doesn’t want to be punched by an angry farmer.

DC's secondary has a total ban on phones. Not only within the school grounds, but on the way too/ from school, too. And they're v. v. keen on parents removing the phones from their children c. 8pm every evening - which we do.

Apparently some enquiry found that the most common times for bullying - online etc. - is on the way too and from school, and between the hours of 1 and 3am when parents think their children are asleep.

One secondary school - almost total ban - had to have an exemption from the head to have your phone at school and hand it in daily
Another secondary school - understood that kids needed phones due to distances travelled to school but no use allowed in school time

Total mixed messages here. Phones are meant to be turned off and kept at the bottom of their bags... but they need various apps for homework etc and for some lessons are asked to use their phones for class work.

Yes

Independant schoool where every child has a school laptop, where all the programmes are controlled and every key stroke (can be) monitored.

All the technology is done on the school laptops.

Mobile phones are locked away in phone lockers between 8.30 and 4pm, with no access.
Serious consequences if phones are found on pupils and not in phone lockers.

It works well IMO..... our school have had this no phones policy for at least 7 years.

If any child needs to make a phone call they can go to the office and use the schools landline, and if a parent needs to get a message to their child then they call school (or email)

The school take any communication on the phones (not in school time) seriously, eg social media, whatsapp etc etc...... if children are unkind to each other out of school, it's taken seriously in school.

Phones have to be off in blazer pocket. Confiscated if seen. Happens twice and it's gone into the office and a parent has to come and collect it. It works. Very occasionally a teacher will ask them to use a phone to photograph somet

@onetwothreeee what is a phone locker? Never known. Would that work in a really big school?

Off and out of sight.

I know a pupil got suspended recently for filming other pupils.

This actually sounds like a sensible rule

We live in SE London, my kids are primary age but secondary not far off

Our area is generally nice but often hear of school kids being mugged for their phones on way home from school...which is a terrifying thought

This thread has been so interesting to read through, I hope DC future secondary school have similar policies to ban mobiles during the school day

This stuck in my head

@TurquoiseDress I'm in a big city and know a vast number of teens in multiple schools via work I do. I have never heard of a child being mugged for a phone. Phones tend to be tracked and most kids have older models / reconditioned ones so not that desirable. It might happen but not common

Please can you share the name of your DS’s school or if not the area of London. I am passionate about this. My DD will start secondary in sep. mobile phone policy is a consideration along with the commute. Girls schools are her preference. I have a younger DS. Thank you.

🤣