Handing smartphones in at the school office - staff included

[thebookeatinggirl]

I recently visited a primary school as part of an interview process.

Everyone entering the school premises during the school day, staff included, had to hand in their mobile phones on entering the school. Office bagged and tagged them. It's part of their enhanced safe-guarding practice. Staff could get them at lunchtime, and end of the day.

Is this a new thing? Not come across it before.

I've seen it in a very small amount of EYFS settings. I'd say it's pretty unusual. Its a bit of a 'look at us we are so tight on safeguarding' display. Most schools I've been in just say phones have to be out of the sight of pupils.

I've certainly never heard of this before.

Sounds crazy and as if the head doesn't have much faith in the staff.

My teacher-friend's school did this....for about six weeks (new HT, tight ship etc etc) until the box of phones got stolen (they suspect an on-site contractor, he also stole petty cash tin and spare printer cartridges) from the office : the police and school insurers took a very dim view of the policy.

Lots of schools now have pigeon-hole type lockers (with combination lock, like in gyms) in staff room so that staff can lock away bags/phones and be responsible for their own stuff.

I've heard of it before for pupils I think it didn't end well and I believe police were involved. However for staff it seems very petty and I would think shows a huge lack of trust from management, can't imagine its a very good school

What the hell? I'm a teacher talk about micro managing the staff?!

That would make me think twice about working there. We are expected to have ours on silent or off, put somewhere safe, and not get them out in lessons. We are professionals and should be trusted.
I would resent having to spend part of my lunch time retrieving it and putting it back too!

Run like the wind and consider it a lucky escape

Have never had this in a school ( and I am a visiting teacher so am in and out of lots of different ones.) However, I sometimes get asked to hand my phone in at Nurseries and pre-schools. I do get a bit annoyed though when they just take it off me and leave it on a desk - not actually lock it away. My work life is in my phone and it would be a considerable pain if it was stolen.

I do a far bit of work on my phone.

If I'm on PPA, I sometimes use my phone to work out percentage scores on assessments, catch up with the subject-related Facebook groups I'm in - particularly any ideas I've bookmarked, take photos of kids work for evidence... the list goes on really.
I wouldn't be happy handing it over. Feels a bit mistrusting. I work in 6 schools a week and nobody has ever asked me to do this.

Ours have to be on silent in cupboards.

But we can use it during break and lunch and when kids go home etc.

I agree seems like a safeguarding box ticking exercise.

It's more common in eyfs settings, after the Vanessa Georges case.
I haven't known it in a primary before though.

leccybill - I used to help out at dcs primary school and it was a very strict rule that no photos could be taken on staff personal phones in school. Isn't that a basic standard procedure, why do you take work photos on your own phone?

Having to hand in phones sounds like a lot of hassle and a recipe for disaster if anything goes wrong

Because we don't have a dept camera or ipad. I photograph the work, email it to myself and delete.

I deal with lettings in our school and get calls on my work mobile in and out of my working hours.

I would not be happy handing it in either, smacks of a lack of trust