Christ’s School Mobile Phone Policy

Rationale

Mobile phones are now a feature of modern society and most of our pupils own one.
Increasing sophistication of mobile phone technology presents a number of issues
for schools:
• The high value of many phones
• The integration of cameras into phones leading to potential child protection
and data
protection issues.
• The potential to use the phone e.g. for texting whilst on silent mode.

It is not realistic to prohibit phones being brought to school, nor is it logistically

possible for the school to collect phones in each morning and return them in the
afternoon. It is our policy to allow pupils to have a mobile phone with them in school
under the conditions outlined below.
The school aims to educate students in the responsible use of this technology.
Note: All points in this policy apply to phones, ipods, ipads, itouch, MP3, MP4
players and any similar devices.

Responsible Use

1. Cyber-bullying is completely unacceptable, students found to be responsible for

this will have their phone confiscated; it will be returned to their parent / carer, or
passed to the Police.

2. Students must ensure that files stored on their phones do not contain violent,
degrading or pornographic images or material that is believed unacceptable by the
school. The transmission of some information is a criminal offence. Students found
to be responsible for this will have their phone confiscated; it will be returned to their
parent / carer, or passed to the Police.

3. The school is a work place; phones must be switched off during lessons.

Rules

1. Whilst the school gives permission for phones to be brought to the school,
responsibility for the phone rests with the student and the school will take no
financial responsibility for loss. The school bears no responsibility for confiscated
items.
2. Students must not use phones during lessons. This means that phones must not
be used for example, for making calls, checking the time, texting or used as a
calculator during lessons. Phones etc must not be visible during lessons, they must
be switched off. The only exception to this rule is if the teacher conducting the lesson
asks students to use their mobiles as part of the lesson. Thus students may only
use their phones freely during break and lunch times.

3. Head phones must not be worn during lessons or around the school.

4. If phones are used at incorrect times students will be challenged, phones will be
confiscated, and will be returned the following day after a C3 detention has been
completed. If a phone is confiscated the student will be allowed at an appropriate
moment, to text their parent/carer to tell them it has been confiscated. If students
dispute this, or offend persistently, parents will be asked to collect the phone from
reception.

5. If there is an emergency which requires communication with home, students must

speak to a member of staff who will deal with the matter. Personal mobile phones
must not be used in lesson time. Parents / carers should only phone students at
break time (10.40 -10.55am) or lunchtime (12.55 -1.35pm). Parents are reminded
that in cases of emergency, the school switch board remains a vital and appropriate
point of contact and can ensure your child is reached quickly and assisted in any
appropriate way.

6. Mobile phones cannot under any circumstances be taken into examination rooms.
Breach of this rule will lead to invalidation of that examination and potentially other
examinations.

7. Students need to acknowledge that it is a privilege to be permitted to bring mobile

phones to school and abuse of this policy may lead to a curtailment of this privilege.

Theft or damage
1. Students should mark their mobile phone clearly with their names.
2. Students who bring a mobile phone to school should look after them carefully. It is
essential that in PE lessons phones are handed over to the teacher for safe keeping.
Phones must not be left in the changing room.
3 Mobile phones that are found in the school and whose owner cannot be located
should be handed to reception.
4 The school accepts no responsibility for replacing lost, stolen or damaged
phones.
5 The school accepts no responsibility for students who lose or have their
phone stolen while travelling to and from school.
6 It is strongly advised that students use passwords/pin numbers to ensure that
unauthorised phone calls cannot be made on their phones (e.g. by other
students, or if stolen). Students must keep their password/pin numbers
confidential.