Mobile Phone / Smart Watch Code of Conduct for Pupils
Pupils must obey the following rules if they choose to bring their mobile phone or smart watch to school:
1. Pupils must not use their mobile phone during lessons.
2. Smart Watches are allowed to be used to tell the time but not to check messages or communicate with.
3. Phones must be switched off and left in bags when they enter the school site and for the duration of the school day (not just put on ‘silent’).
4. Pupils MUST not use their mobile phone in the toilets or changing rooms. This is to protect the privacy and welfare of other pupils.
5. Pupils may use their mobile phones when sat on the school bus or travelling to and from school, but it should be turned off and placed in school bags before entering the school site.
6. Pupils cannot take photos or recordings (either video or audio) of school staff or other pupils without their consent.
7. Pupils should avoid sharing their contact details with people they don’t know, and don’t share other people’s contact details without their consent.
8. Pupils should not share their phone’s passwords or access codes with anyone else.
9. Pupils must not use their phone to bully, intimidate or harass anyone. This includes bullying, harassing or intimidating pupils or staff via:
- Text/messaging app
- Social media
10. Pupils must not use their phone to send or receive anything that may be criminal. For instance, by ‘sexting’.
11. Rules on bullying, harassment, and intimidation apply to how pupils use their mobile phone even when they aren’t in school.
12. Pupils must not use vulgar, obscene, or derogatory language while on the phone or when using social media. This language is not permitted under the school’s behaviour policy.
13. Pupils must not use their phone to view or share pornography or other harmful content.
14. Mobile phones are not permitted in any internal or external exam or test environment. Bringing a phone into the test room can result in the exam being declared invalid.
15. Sanctions will be issued, and phones / smart watches confiscated when:
- Phones are seen in pupil pockets.
- Phones are seen at break/lunchtime or lesson changeover.
- Phones are seen in a lesson.
- Smart watches are seen being used to communicate (to include checking messages or social media)
16. Any confiscated items will be returned to a pupil at the end of the school day unless school feel parents/carers should collect it.
17. Repeat offences will generate greater sanctions or interventions.
It is not advisable for any pupil to bring expensive items like tablets, mobile phones or smart watches into school. The school cannot be held responsible for any losses; however, they may occur.
The IT equipment at school and pupils’ school accounts are monitored regularly; any mis-use e.g. searching for inappropriate material is unacceptable.
