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Original poster

Secondary teachers : tell me your school's mobile phone policy!

99 replies

Piggywaspushed · 15/03/2018 18:56

Just that, really. Bit of a snap survey.

And is the policy adhered to/ applied/ does it work ?

OP posts:
ScottishG · 15/03/2018 23:07

School rules say phones not allowed in lessons or in any school buildings. This is mostly adhered to in lessons, but outside of lessons they are everywhere. No particular guidance on confiscation. Not unusual to see kids wandering around taking a call. All feels a bit out of control. Large state comp.(2000 pupils)

RomaineCalm · 15/03/2018 23:26

Handed in at the office first thing and given back at the end of the day. If not handed in they are confiscated for a week/until the end of half term/term. Adhered to by all as far as I can see.

We had a new pupil from another school that allows phones in class and they were initially horrified by the 'no phones' policy. A week in and we overheard a very positive comment that 'people actually talk to each other at break/lunchtime here'.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 07:01

Scottish that sounds familiar! The issue we have I think is that the liberal attitudes to phone use have crept into the classroom : so students simply can't (and often won't ) put them away, or text etc under the table. Part of it is a desire to display their iphone whatever number we are on. It is often their mum texting or calling them, or with sixth formers their boss! Sixth form are very bad with phones : they put them on the desk in front of them as if they are in a pub!

We do have confiscation rules - and they can't get their phones back til the end of the day if taken, but it isn't deterring them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 07:02

And also - sigh - another bugbear- we don't have an on call system...

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KakunaRattata · 16/03/2018 07:10

Turned off before registration and not turned back on till after last lesson. They're allowed on site, just not to be used in school hours including all break times.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 07:13

How is break time use monitored kakuna or do the children just adhere to it?

My DS's school have this rule and he does seem to think it is applied - but I am amazed students aren't just ignoring the rule/ out on the field/ in the loo with their phones. But he says not.

OP posts:
Danglingmod · 16/03/2018 07:15

Banned from use/being switched on from beginning to end of school day. Sixth form allowed them in common room but not classroom, corridor or study room...

If caught, phone is instantly confiscated until end of day.

Some teaching staff allow limited use in the classroom, usually the odd bit of research or occasionally to listen to music during a revision session. They're not really supposed to though and makes it harder for staff who don't.

Rylanmakesmyheartsmile · 16/03/2018 07:30

I'm a parent, not a teacher - but I'm in no way surprised to hear that DS's school is way more lax than most going by the responses on this thread Hmm

Rules in his school state that mobiles should not be used during class, but are free for use at all other times, however pupils are not allowed to be "plugged in" at any time on school property - whether that be with a phone, iPod, iPad, whatever.

In reality - even the S1s use them in class and half the school is "plugged in" walking around the corridors. Many (according to DS) will just put one headphone in, but that's the "good kids" who don't want to get into trouble - everyone else just puts both in and no-one cares.

He has been encouraged by staff to use his phone in class to take photos of notes or test results etc, as well as to take down reminders of passwords or work to be done. (Despite all work being set on google classroom)

I hate it - but it's indicative of much bigger problems at the school and my guess is that the SLT think it's a minor thing that's not worth policing properly.

(This is also the school whose smoking rule simply states "no smoking on school grounds" and that's it - they have even gone as far as saying that once the pupils are outside school boundaries, on the street, they have no jurisdiction over them so can't force them to do (or not do) anything, so they can't stop them smoking even if they wanted to. The pupils are all allowed out of school grounds to walk into town for lunch and it's not uncommon to see kids as young as S2 smoking openly while out at lunch time.)

In case it's not obvious - I'm not a fan of our SLT

Falconhoof1 · 16/03/2018 07:34

Can use at breaks but not during school time.

missy111 · 16/03/2018 07:40

Not to be seen or heard. We accept that students will have phones on them, but if they are seen they are confiscated and parents have to come and pick them up. If they have it confiscated 3 Times in a term they don't get it back until the end of term!!

noblegiraffe · 16/03/2018 07:48

don't have an on call system...

How do you get back-up when you need it??

Kids may be using phones in the toilets or hidden places but then they may also be smoking there and so on. All you can do is make sure there are staff on duty who will challenge if seen.

Since we banned them they went from being a massive problem to really not an issue. I’ve not confiscated one since before Christmas, and I would if I saw one (unlike previously where it was too much hassle so I’d just tell them to put it away).

Brokenbiscuit · 16/03/2018 08:02

Not a teacher, but at dd's state secondary school, phones are banned during school hours - the kids can carry them, but they must not be seen or heard at any time, including break and lunchtime, in the corridors etc. From what dd says, this rule is pretty strictly applied and phones are confiscated if the rules are broken. I think it's great.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 08:21

Ah well, noble you see we don't need back up, because we are not correct in stating that behaviour has deteriorated at our school.

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ScottishG · 16/03/2018 08:39

I've recently moved from a school with no on call to one with. Interestingly, behaviour is worse at the latter. A group of kids seem to see on call as a bit of a game - being pursued round the school by a teacher with a radio is sport.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 10:53

Yes, I can see that could happen...

Our SLT are rather famed for their ability to hide and adopt invisibility at crucial moments.

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noblegiraffe · 16/03/2018 11:37

A suggestion that if SLT are sat in their offices rather than out and about ‘on call’ then they won’t be able to observe the deterioration in behaviour, probably wouldn’t be welcomed though, right?

In the meantime behaviour is fine for them in their lessons (what few they have) because they’re SLT and have powers, a perk they will never acknowledge.

TeenTimesTwo · 16/03/2018 11:57

(Parent) I wish my DD's school banned them. DD feels left out at break and lunch because she doesn't have millions of games on her phones etc. They used to have a no visible phones rule but (imo) couldn't be bothered to police it so now they get used a lot at break and lunch. (Not sure about lessons.)

Poppiesway1 · 16/03/2018 12:04

Our school has a no phone policy.. however the children are some how instagramming live from their lessons, hiding phones when teachers not looking. My ds2 show starts me his instagram and is amazed how they get away with it. So am I!!

RancidOldHag · 16/03/2018 12:16

Not a teacher, but saw this in Active and I do know for sure what the phone policy is at our secondary, so I hope you don't mind me interloping.

Phones have to be silenced/switched off on arrival at school, and be kept out of sight at all times including break times and lunchtime.

If a phone is noticed (either by going off, or by a pupil seen using it) then it is an incident noted on the 'conduct card' (where all minor infractions are recorded). It can be a 1, 2, or 3 point note, depending on circumstances. Too many points leads to a detention. Teachers apparently can confiscate (as they can any unsuitable item) for collection at end of day, but in practice they use the points system.

If it appears to be part of a wider issue (text bullying) then greater sanction is available, including surrendering phone on arrival at school to the office, and collecting at end of day.

If a pupil has exceptional need to make a phone call during the school day, any teacher can give permission but the pupil has to go to the main reception before getting their phone out.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 16/03/2018 14:10

That sounds sensible!

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MongerTruffle · 16/03/2018 16:54

How do you get back-up when you need it??
In the ten years I've worked at my school (around 1200 pupils), there has not once been a situation where a staff member would have needed back-up.

ElleMcFearsome · 16/03/2018 16:58

We went from 'phones everywhere' to a 'not to be seen/heard' as the staff survey recorded this as their No.1 wish two years running! We warned the kids and parents at the end of the school year and instituted it in September (so lots of take up time.) The first term we confiscated a LOT of phones (1st offence it gets given back at the end of the day, 2nd parent/carer had to come in an collect it). There was UPROAR (parents and students) initially but it's settled now.

Very few students refuse to hand it over - it's an isolation offence and they have to hand them over in iso anyway. Our on call system is good and SLT very supportive (also with stroppy parents who didn't believe the policy should be applied to their DC). We don't kid ourself that they aren't on them in loos at break/lunch but having a clear policy is the way forward. 6th form can use them in common room and in lessons at teacher's discretion.

I think the key is to have everyone on board (including SLT!!) and hit it really hard. If they get caught now they have an 'it's a fair cop' attitude and hand it over - recently I was out at break and whipped a phone out of a student's hand without breaking stride Grin he just laughed (as did his mates) and went 'fairs, Miss'

noblegiraffe · 16/03/2018 17:07

Monger what kind of utopia do you teach in? Shock Never had a kid refuse to be sent out?

ScottishG · 16/03/2018 17:11

I want to work where monger work!

BackforGood · 16/03/2018 17:15

Handed in at the office first thing and given back at the end of the day.

Wow! How many staff does it take to administer the logging and returning of 1000 phones every day ??? Shock

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