As you may be aware, the government recently announced new guidance for schools for prohibiting the use of mobile phones during the school day. The guidance can be read in full here-
Mobile phones in schools - February 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
There are different options for schools to take from within this guidance, ranging from a complete ban on mobile phones, to phones being handed in to staff when the students arrive on site, to phones being never seen and never heard. This guidance has been issued to try to control the use of mobile phones in school age children. Parents can play an important role in supporting the school in effectively implementing its policy on mobile phones and eliminating this form of distraction for pupils in lessons.
It is important to point out some facts about this-
- The National Behaviour Survey (2021-2022) found that 29% of secondary school pupils (rising to 40% for key stage 4 pupils) reported mobile phones being used without permission in most of their lessons.3 This not only distracts the single pupil using the phone, but disrupts the lesson for a whole class, and diverts teachers’ efforts away from learning.
- Mobile phones have already been prohibited or restricted in one in four countries worldwide, including France, The Netherlands and several Australian states and territories. Restrictions on the use of mobile phones is not unique to schools in England.
- Screen time can displace positive activities. Socialising, exercise, and good sleep are positive influences on wellbeing. All these can be displaced by screen time. By prohibiting the use of mobile phones during break and lunchtimes at school as well as in lessons, more time for socialising and exercise can be created during the school day.
- Three in ten pupils cite making and maintaining friendships and their mental health as a cause of worry, anxiety or depression. By removing mobile phones, children and young people can spend more time staying active and socialising face to face with their peers, activities which have a positive impact on wellbeing.
The options available to us as a school are as follows-
- No mobile phones on the school premises
- Mobile phone handed in on arrival
- Mobile phones kept in a secure location
- Never used, seen or heard
Our current policy is already option d) Never used, seen or heard. Mobile phones should always be turned off. However, as the government guidance requires from us, we will be ensuring that this policy is consistently applied at all times in school.
If your child is caught with a phone, it WILL be confiscated by that staff member, and a detention will be issued- RTL.
If it is the first time the phone has been confiscated, it will be returned to your child at the end of the day.
If it is the second time, the phone will only be returned to parents at a time that is convenient to the school, this will be after school so as not to interrupt the running of the school day and to not detract from core roles.
Further occurrences will result in time being spent in the reflection room and meetings with parents where it must be agreed that your child will move to Option A and not be allowed to bring a phone to school.
In the very unlikely situation that your child refuses to hand a phone over, this will result in immediately being removed to the reflection room for non-compliance. Any further refusals to comply may result in suspensions from school.
What do we ask from parents?
- We ask that you support the current school policy and government issued guidelines and reinforce this at home, explaining the facts outlined in this email.
- We ask that you DO NOT contact your child via their own mobile phone in school and use the school Office phone. If this does occur and the child uses their mobile phone and explains that there was contact from a parent, the sanctions above will still apply.
Reasonable adjustments
If there is a clear medical need to use a mobile phone in school (e.g. diabetics monitoring blood sugar), then of course reasonable adjustments will be made. Tutors and the pastoral team will discuss this with individual students.
This guidance also applies to mobile phones being used in lessons as a device for learning too - this will not be required and school will provide the necessary resources for students to participate in lessons.
I remind you that this is no change to our current policy - we will merely be ensuring we consistently apply it. Overall, we support the government guidance being issued as it fits with our current policy. We will review this approach over this coming term and may make changes to either options a, b or c if required. We will notify you if any changes are required. It is hoped that home and school work together to ensure this option works for our students.
Another positive week at Manor High School. Over 3000 points have been handed out, with almost 90% of those being positive points. The focus this week has been our core value of inspiration. In form time students have been looking at what inspiration is and how they can show this across school.
Students are starting to receive offers of places for their Post 16 education. With this, they may be asked to attend meetings / interviews. Please note that if these are in school time you need to contact the school in the same way you would about a medical appointment etc. We will only be able to let students leave the site to attend interviews if parents/carers have informed the school of the meeting beforehand. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
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