While the school accepts that mobile phones are now a part of everyday life, increasing evidence is emerging that links mobile phone usage with lower academic performance, increased bullying and increased truancy rates.
All forms of personal music players should not be used in school unless you have specific permission for their use (on a long trip for example) and even then the school cannot take responsibility for loss, theft or damage.
If It is absolutely necessary for a mobile phone to be brought into school it must be switched off at all times throughout the school day and kept in a safe place (ideally in your lockable locker or switched off in your bag). Using a camera phone to take photographs of people in school is a serious breach of the school code of conduct and would lead to an investigation and possible exclusion.
However, students do have permission to access phones on the school site at 3:10pm to clarify any transport arrangements home. Should students need to contact home during the school day, we ask students to go to the reception area and to ask permission to use their phone, alternatively they could ask a staff member e.g. their tutor.
If phones are confiscated in school due to inappropriate use, the school will request that parents/carers come to collect the phone from reception.
A school mobile phone is taken on all trips and sports fixtures, so there is rarely a need for students to use their own personal phone. As mobile phones are not necessary in school, as with music players, the school will not take responsibility for the loss, theft or damage to any mobile phone.
