1. Use of Mobile phones around the school

2. Mobile phone use
Over recent years there has been a huge culture shift regarding mobile phones, especially smart phones. They are used by the general public as a useful tool for much more than just making phone calls. We believe that we should be preparing young people to use modern technology in a safe and responsible way and have, therefore, never issued a ban as some schools have. Mobile phones are a privilege. The abuse of this privilege must have clear direct consequences.

3. General Uses of mobile phones
Students should not play music through speakers, take any photographs or video (unless permitted by staff), leave their headphones hanging out from their shirt, or use the phone as a means of ignoring staff.
Students must not use their phones whilst walking along the corridors at any time of the day.
When talking to a member of staff anywhere a student must put the phone away if requested; using the phone whilst a member of staff is talking is poor manners.
Phones must be switched off during lessons and be placed in school bags.
Mobile phones are not allowed to be used in the classroom unless at direct request of Staff. Staff will never give permission for students to listen to their own music in class (even through headphones). If mobile devices are required as a teaching/learning tool then the teacher will give permission for mobile phones to be used (this permission will only be for that actual single period and cannot be used as permission in other lessons).
Students cannot use a mobile phone in an exam – even as a calculator (as per exam board regulations). Mobile phones are collected by exam invigilators prior to every public exam and are kept safely locked away until the exam finishes. Pupils must always hand their phone in during an exam or leave it at home.
Pupils should never take a photo/video of a member of staff.

4. Contact with parents/carers
If a pupil is ill they MUST see a member of the pastoral team/member of staff. They should not contact home directly. The only way any arrangement with home can take place is through the school.
Students cannot phone home from their mobile and arrange to go home.
Parents should not contact their child directly to arrange to pick them up.
If at any point a student misuses their phone or refuses to follow the above rules, a member of staff can confiscate the phone. It should be placed in reception till the end of the school day.

5. Year Guidelines Years 7 and 8
Must not get their phones or headphones out of their bags at any time without permission of a teacher. They should not use them at break or lunchtime either. They may make necessary calls to parents from the pastoral offices or reception.
Years 9, 10 and 11
May take their phones/headphones out at break and lunchtime if they are in an agreed social area and using them responsibly. They should not use them whilst walking around school between lessons. They should act as a role model by not using them around school.
 Years 12 and 13
May use their phones/headphones within the Sixth Form area however, as they are role models to the rest of the school they must be sitting down/standing still in an agreed social area and using them responsibly, if they are outside the Sixth Form area.

6. All students
Any student who does not comply with our rules will be asked to hand over their phone /headphones to the member of staff who sees them breaking the rule. The item will be placed in the safe in the main school reception and the student can collect at the end of the same day. A second occasion would include parental/carer contact and a third would require the parent/carer to collect at their convenience.
Should a student not comply with a request to hand over a phone/headphones then they will lose social time for a week and parents will be contacted.
If a student is unable to follow these basic rules they will be asked to place their phone in reception before school and collect after school. (If this rule is not followed then this would be classed as persistent refusal to comply which could lead to exclusion).

7. This week and beyond
Reinforce these basic expectations with your tutor groups/classes
Confiscate phones where necessary and hand into reception
Support other members of staff by being consistent in how you respond to students.