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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Would you consider a male teacher charging girls' phones for them to be a safeguarding issue?

58 replies

qumquat · 05/04/2019 07:05

I have found out that the teacher who is the darling of the head is charging students phones for them (phones not allowed out at all in school and need to be off before entering school gates). Obviously this is against all sort of the school rules but would you say it was also a safeguarding issue? I'm debating what route to go down in reporting it as I know he'll be very well protected. (Ie gets away with murder on a daily basis) Thanks.

OP posts:
Happyspud · 05/04/2019 07:09

You what??

EmmaGrundyForPM · 05/04/2019 07:12

Its obviously against school rules but I cant see why it's a safeguarding issue.

Original poster
qumquat · 05/04/2019 07:12

Not sure what you mean by that! Do you mean it's a non issue?

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 05/04/2019 07:13

How on earth would it be a safeguarding issue?

Mucky1 · 05/04/2019 07:14

Surely it's more helpful then harmful and parents would be glad of it. Him plugging in a switched off phone means they have charge in their phone after school when needed ? Where the problem.

PeachNut · 05/04/2019 07:14

I’m a head. If you’re saying that the teacher is doing this ‘as a favour’ for pupils who shouldn’t even have phones in school, that’s a break in policy and procedure, not safeguarding; but yes I’d want to know and I’d act on it.

If you’re saying this teacher, who is male, is deliberately targeting young girls to do them a favour, given the imbalance of power then yes there are possible safeguarding implications.

Tell the head.

CraftyGin · 05/04/2019 07:14

There’s no harm in reporting it to he DSL and letting them decide.

It’s not specifically a safeguarding issue if phones are off, and passcode protected.

But safeguarding issues usually start when someone doesn’t follow the rules of the organisation, and others consider this to be trivial. They do this over and over, and then get a reputation for being a bit of a loveable rogue, rather than something serious.

Waffles80 · 05/04/2019 07:14

Have you had any safeguarding training?

Heyha · 05/04/2019 07:14

No- but it is a professionalism issue if they aren't allowed phones (because highly unlikely they'd arrive with a flat phone).

I HAVE charged phones for kids in the past (two or three times a term maybe) but ours are allowed them and when I know a student has a bus ride or a long walk home, and they've dared to ask because they are worried, I've no issue with their phone sitting in my office while I'm in my classroom. BUT that's only because the school policy did not forbid phones being on and on site.

SaskiaRembrandt · 05/04/2019 07:15

Not sure what you mean by that! Do you mean it's a non issue?

I'd guess they mean that it's clearly not a safeguarding issue and they are perplexed about why you would think it was.

crosser62 · 05/04/2019 07:16

Sounds like a witch hunt and like you are trying to get this person in any way that you can.

It’s not a safeguard issue in any shape or form.
Leave the poor bloke alone!

Original poster
qumquat · 05/04/2019 07:18

The background is the 'poor bloke' got my colleague fired last year for less. So yes, that's why I wanted to check my reaction! Also I know the safeguarding lead would listen whereas the head would ignore and/or I would get in trouble for it. I'll leave it and focus on getting out of this place!

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 05/04/2019 07:20

Sounds like a witch hunt and like you are trying to get this person in any way that you can.

Agree - the giveaway is “the teacher who is the darling of the head”.

FamilyOfAliens · 05/04/2019 07:21

Sounds like everyone would benefit from you leaving, tbf.

CrazyKittenSmile · 05/04/2019 07:23

I can see why you’d be worried about safeguarding if he is only charging the phones for a specific set of young girls and refusing the requests of other girls or boys. If he’s regularly doing special favours for certain students then this could be seen as grooming and is definitely a safeguarding issue.

I would say it could also be a safeguarding issue if he is charging the phones in a private room he is alone in (Eg: his private office) - in that case there is a risk he is looking through the phones at the photos/ texts etc of the young girls. Certainly he is putting himself in a vulnerable position for accusations if he is doing this regardless of his intent. It’s not a very savvy thing to do.

If on the other hand he’s charging phones for any student who has a reasonable need to charge it and who asks him and if he is doing it in the busy classroom for the duration of a lesson and is never alone with either the phone or the student then I don’t see any safeguarding issues. However it sounds like it may still be against policy.

Original poster
qumquat · 05/04/2019 07:23

I also can't believe how rude some people here are. I have had a lot of safeguarding training. This person is an assistant head and should know better. A simple yes or no to my question would have sufficed.

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 05/04/2019 07:23

If the safeguarding lead would take this non-problem seriously then it sounds as though they should join you in looking for another job.

TroysMammy · 05/04/2019 07:23

Do you think he is he looking through the girl's messages and social media?

FamilyOfAliens · 05/04/2019 07:25

I am a safeguarding lead, OP.

I think you need to report your concerns about this to a DSL, then drop the vendetta against this teacher.

stucknoue · 05/04/2019 07:33

There's a lot of reasons why it might be for good reasons, perhaps a student isn't able to charge because they are living in temporary housing, perhaps their battery is had it and can't afford another, just forgetting even - if he's refusing for others favouring certain girls then a worry but if it's coincidental that it's girls who ask him then no a safeguarding issue

Mucky1 · 05/04/2019 07:35

My asd takes his tablet to use on the journey into school as it's a 45 min trip. His and all the other pupils who need it are charged daily in the office for the return trip. No issues and I'm really glad they do it.

FamilyOfAliens · 05/04/2019 07:35

I have had a lot of safeguarding training.

In that case, you’ll know that if you have concerns about a safeguarding issue, you pass your concerns to a DSL. That’s your job done.

It’s not your job to investigate and certainly not your job to seek views on an internet forum. Stop wasting your time on here and report any concerns you have in accordance with the school’s safeguarding policy.

HexagonalBattenburg · 05/04/2019 07:45

They're being a muppet who's undermining the school behaviour policy but it sounds like they've nicely squirmed their way into being fairly untouchable by cosying up to the head (and it does happen - we've had a nightmare with one of my kids this year from a staff member who's got into a very comfortable position in the school and we've just had to endure the year - to the detriment of mine and my little girl's mental health).

Sad thing is you're likely to have more luck asking if the phone charger being used is PAT tested than anything else in some schools these days!

BlueCornishPixie · 05/04/2019 07:55

It depends though really.

If it's a specific set of pupils he will do it for and not others then it could be a safeguarding issue, yes. If it's everyone I suppose as well while it feels innocuous in itself it could be part of a bigger picture. Sometimes although behaviour in its self isn't a safeguarding concern our but can tell us it is, which maybe the case.

If though it was one student who was upset about something and he did as a favour you would have to be a dick to report it. It really depends on the scenario.

I hate on MN people trotting out 'have you have safeguarding training", it's like a mn buzzword. I have had a lot of safeguarding training and an awful lot of it has been a pile of shite. Yes it tells you the basics but wouldn't have given me the confidence to report something that I was concerned about but wasn't obvious. Safeguarding training isn't fallproof and it doesn't mean that there aren't times when you are unsure.

If in doubt I would always report, it's probably nothing but it's not your job to work out if it is.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 05/04/2019 07:58

I would say it could also be a safeguarding issue if he is charging the phones in a private room he is alone in (Eg: his private office) - in that case there is a risk he is looking through the phones at the photos/ texts etc of the young girls. Certainly he is putting himself in a vulnerable position for accusations if he is doing this regardless of his intent. It’s not a very savvy thing to do.

I'd be stunned at any pupil having a phone without a password at least, if not finger or Face ID, which would make this a difficult accusation surely?

Although I'd agree it seems a silly decision on his part.