Mobile phone use by staff

[ReceptionTA]

The school I work in only allows phones in the staff room. They are not to be taken into classrooms , even if they are locked away in a cupboard. We keep them in our lockers. We're often reminded this is for our own protection, so we can't be accused of inappropriate actions, taking photos of children for example.

The only exception is if we go on a school trip, then it's kept at the bottom of our bag for emergencies only.
If we want to take photos we have school cameras and iPads.
Through 3 separate conversations this week I've realised the staff in my DCs school use their phones. It seems to be mainly for accessing EduLink, the app used by staff, parents and pupils. This has shocked me.
What is the policy regarding staff mobile phone use in your school (and where in the world are you if not England)?

Personal mobiles stay in our lockers in the staffroom, we can use them if we’re in the staffroom only. If we have DC of our own they have the office number! On a trip we only use them to contact other staff members say if a group is late to a pre-agreed meeting point. We have several children on roll who cannot have photos taken under any circumstances, so it’s not worth even having the potential to be honest!

We don’t have any policy on staff phones apart from not being allowed to use them in the classroom for conversations.

I often use mine to show students relevant pictures in the classroom.

Outstanding secondary

There's probably a no phones in classroom policy but it's not enforced. Obviously no personal use during lessons and definitely no photos of students, but if it's in a pocket it's fine. The other week the kids in one class I was supporting had the last 10 minutes on kahoot which uses mobiles. 2 lads (sen) didn't have data or a phone so I made a team with them and played on my phone.
This is secondary btw, so we know students have phones on them and it's all about sensible use.

We are more or less told we have to use them to take registers in assembly. I hate this as a) I think it sets a bad example and b) I personally do not have the storage space on my phone for yet another app . I think if schools want teachers to use phones, they should be providing them but I know that won't happen!!

At some point, teachers having access to student data on personal mobiles will become an issue, surely??

You have to take the register on them?!😮

I take registers on mine too. The network is so bloody slow and unsuitable for the size of the school. It can take 20 minutes to get the bloody computer on. If SLT name and shame those that don't get their registered done within the first 10 minutes, I have no other choice.

There is no policy for staff mobile phones.

At some point, teachers having access to student data on personal mobiles will become an issue, surely??

This would be an issue in our school!

Have to have mine on me in case I need emergency support whilst out of class (SEN). Other than that any photos need to be deleted as soon as uploaded to the server.

No policy in Secondary academy. Obviously no photos of kids but often take pics of work.

At my school we are only allowed them in the staff room or certain offices. We’re not even allowed them on school trips - we have to take a mobile phone issued by the school office. Using a personal mobile phone is seen as a big safeguarding issue and would potentially lead to disciplinary action. That said, my school is a residential specialist school with a lot of vulnerable looked-after children and so our safeguarding policies are particularly rigorous compared to many other schools.

We have no policy on it. I have mine on my desk and I use it during my frees. I often use the timer on it for activities as well.

The poster up thread who mentioned accessing data on a personal phone. I totally agree. This is both a safeguarding and a GDPR issue

It's a non issue in any school I've worked in. There is in fact a hope that we will use them to access work emails at home, judging by the amount of them I receive on my day off.
If the school computer is being used for the lesson, I might check the cover sheet on my phone. Or as a pp said, use the timer. I will take photos of work or the board on it, I am not provided with anything else that could do this.
And when my child's school call me to say she has just puked up everywhere, they get through to be a lot faster than by calling the office. I then use the same phone to call dh and tell him it's his turn! So I would never be texting for fun or going on mumsnet etc during classes, it's a tool and I do use it for professional reasons and expect to have it available to me for non-professional reasons when I don't have a class. Have never worked anywhere with lockers either.
It smacks a bit of treating staff like students to me (and they certainly have their phones with them!)

It's not a safeguarding or GDPR issue if the school have a policy that includes security measures.

For example I'm only allowed to access my work email on my phone because I have my phone finger print protected and have a complex password.

The rules about only in the staffroom and in lockers sounds draconian. You are adults, and should be trusted. I used to listen to music on mine during PPA or frees. The policy should have guidelines for safeguarding etc.

"At some point, teachers having access to student data on personal mobiles will become an issue, surely??"

Well it's not actually on the phone, the data would be held in a secure app, and you're accessing it for a legitimate reason.
I don't think GDPR is an issue.

Plus, it would mean you couldn't put work emails on your personal phone, or access any systems remotely on any device other than a school issued devices, connected to the school network.

Phones in staffroom. Never used to take photos or contact parents etc
School phone and camera for trips.
Ipad in class to evidence children work.
Children sign their phone into Reception at start of day and sign out at end. so no phones in class.

Unbelievably relaxed, allowed out on staff's desks & most people are checking them throughout the day. I think the official guidelines are to keep them in lockers but nobody does. Important calls taken in lessons! Large primary school.

We are expected to have our phones with us in case there is some sort of emergency and the school email goes down.

Our primary doesn’t have a policy for staff. There are no lockers so phones are in pockets or in handbags in classrooms.

No policy. I use the timer on it. Or it sits in or on my desk.

I am now abroad but used to work in an English primary. Phone use there was in staff room only, phones in lockers. Photos taken on school cameras.

Here in the USA it is WAY more relaxed. I use my phone to take pics of the kids to upload onto a shared parent site through an APP. I have it on me the whole time i’m in class, keep it silent and don’t answer calls, except for emergencies if my own kids school called i’d pick up the voice mail to see if it was urgent.

What's the policy for staff phones in your GP's surgery, or in the solicitors' offices? I'm not sure what the big deal is. You shouldn't be on your phone when you should be working (unless you are working on your phone) but why should you not be in possession of it?

We have school cameras and school phones for taking photos of events and for use on trips. We don't have to put our own in lockers though. I usually keep mine in my department office and check it at break and lunch. Although our lockdown policy states in the event of lockdown we should use phones and email for communicating within the school which suggests we can (should?) have our phones in the classroom.

Important calls taken in lessons! Large primary school.. I remember, some years ago, being rather taken aback when I phoned a child's mum (I was a HOY) and she picked up in a classroom (she taught in a PRU of some kind) and continued the call with me whilst clearly still in the classroom!

I’m a supply teacher. No one has ever taken my phone from me, or asked about it. As a professional, I’d only take and receive calls in break times. I have used the compass a few times in class.