Mobile Phones: Acceptable Use Policy

Mobile Phones: Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

• Students, their parents or carers must read the policy and understand the acceptable use policy as a condition upon which permission is given to bring mobile phones to school. The home school agreement should be signed to acknowledge recognition of this policy.
• The acceptable use policy for mobile phones also applies to students during school excursions, educational visits and extra-curricular activities on the school site and on external visits.

2. Responsibility

• The decision to provide a mobile phone to their children should be made by parents or carers. It is incumbent upon parents to understand the capabilities of the phone and the potential use/misuse of those capabilities.
• Parents/Carers should be aware that if their child takes a mobile phone to school, the school cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or costs incurred due to its use.
• Parents/Carers are reminded that in case of emergency, student services remains the first point of contact and can ensure your child is contacted quickly and assisted in the relevant way.

3. Acceptable Uses

• The school recognises the importance of emerging technologies present in modern mobile phones. Teachers may wish to utilise these functions to aid teaching and learning and students will have the opportunity to use these at the direct instruction of the class teacher. The use of mobile phones in one lesson for specific purposes does not mean blanket usage is then acceptable.
• Mobile phones should be switched off and kept out of sight once the student enters the perimeter gates at the start of the day (all paraphernalia should be put away so that it is out of sight in the building).
• Mobile phones and associated paraphernalia e.g. Headphones, chargers etc. should not be seen whilst moving between lessons, at break time, lunchtime, during lessons or tutor time.
• Please see the table below for directed times that mobile phones can/can not be acceptably used.

• Key for above; X = not acceptable to be seen at any time with phone.

4. Unacceptable Uses

• Students should not use mobile phones to check Firefly or ‘the time’, this should be done with planner usage or on a watch.
• Using mobiles to bully and threaten is unacceptable. Cyber bullying will not be tolerated. In some cases it can constitute criminal behaviour.
• Unless express permission is granted, mobile phones should not be used to make calls, send messages, internet usage, take photos or any other associated application.
• Listening to music through headphones will not be allowed in any lesson. Music may be played by the class teacher to improve ambience for learning but will be done through the main speakers.
• Mobile phones are banned from all examinations.

5. Sanctions

• Students who infringe the rules will have their phone confiscated and sent to student services immediately. Phones will be kept in named envelopes in the student services safe.
• On the first infringement, the mobile phone will be confiscated. The student will be able to collect their mobile phone at the end of the school day. Behaviour points will be issued.
• Persistent Offenders: parents will be contacted and asked to collect the phone at their earliest convenience.
• Students arguing with any member of staff over a mobile phone infringement will be dealt with very seriously. Members of staff have been asked to implement the policy consistently and therefore there should be no cause for argument.