Mobile Phone Policy

1. Introduction and aims

At Haydon Bridge High School, our policy aims to:

• Ensure our environment is mobile phone-free by default
• Ensure the safe, responsible and lawful use of mobile phones, where applicable
• Provide clear guidelines for the use of mobile phones for students, staff, parents/carers, visitors and volunteers
• Support the school’s other policies, especially those related to child protection and behaviour

This policy also aims to address some of the challenges posed by mobile phones in school, such as:

• Risks to child protection
• Data protection issues
• Risk of theft, loss or damage
• Appropriate use of technology for learning purposes

Note: throughout this policy, ‘mobile phones’ refers to mobile phones and similar devices.

2. Relevant guidance

This policy meets the requirements of section 36 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, and the Department for Education (DfE)’s mobile phone guidance and behaviour guidance. Further guidance that should be considered alongside this policy includes Keeping Children Safe in Education, which sets out the expectation that all schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default.

3. Roles and responsibilities

3.1 Staff

All staff (including teachers, support staff and supply staff) are required to actively enforce this policy and challenge any breach of mobile phone restrictions immediately and consistently.

Volunteers, or anyone else otherwise engaged by the school, must alert a member of staff if they witness, or are aware of, a breach of this policy.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for monitoring the policy and reviewing it annually and holding staff and students accountable for its implementation.

3.2 Local Advisory Board

The policy will be reviewed and ratified annually by the governors (IEB). Updates on the implementation and effectiveness of the policy will be provided at each board meeting as part of the regular behaviour and safeguarding monitoring process.

4. Use of mobile phones by staff

4.1 Personal mobile phones

Staff, including volunteers, contractors, and any other individuals engaged by the school, must not use personal mobile phones for personal purposes during the school day while students are present. Personal mobile phone use is permitted only during non-contact time and in areas of the school where students are not present.

There may be circumstances in which it’s appropriate for a member of staff to have use of their phone during contact time, for personal reasons. For instance (this list is non-exhaustive):

• For emergency contact by their child, or their child’s school
• In the case of acutely ill dependents or family members

The Head of School will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to allow for special arrangements.

If special arrangements are not deemed necessary, school staff can use the school office number 01434 684422 as a point of emergency contact.

4.2 Data protection

Staff must not use their personal mobile phones to process personal data, or any other confidential school information, including entering such data into generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as chatbots (e.g. ChatGPT and Google Gemini).

4.3 Safeguarding

Staff must not give their personal contact details to parents/carers or students, including by connecting through social media and messaging apps.

Staff must avoid publicising their contact details on any social media platform or website, to avoid unwanted contact by parents/carers or students.

4.4 Using personal mobiles for work purposes

In some circumstances, it may be appropriate for staff to use personal mobile phones or a similar device during the school day in front of students for work. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

• Registering students using Arbor
• Accessing emails on Drop ins
• Contacting other staff in an emergency
• Issuing homework, rewards or sanctions
• Use of multi-factor authentication
• Emergency evacuations
• Supervising off-site trips
• Supervising residential visits

In these circumstances, staff will:

• Use their mobile phones in an appropriate and professional manner, in line with our staff code of conduct
• Only take photographs or recordings where appropriate for school purposes, such as school social media or presentations, and delete them from the personal device once they have been securely transferred
• Where necessary use their phones to contact parents/carers. If necessary, contact can be made via the school office or senior member of staff on duty.

4.5 Work phones

Trip mobile phones are provided for work purposes only.

Only authorised staff are permitted to use school phones, and access to the phone must not be provided to anyone without authorisation.

Staff must:

• Only use school phone functions for work purposes, including making/receiving calls, sending/receiving emails or other communications, or using the internet
• Make sure that all communication and conduct linked to the device is appropriate and professional at all times, in line with our staff code of conduct

4.6 Sanctions

Staff that fail to adhere to this policy may face disciplinary action.

See the school’s staff disciplinary policy for more information.

5. Use of mobile phones by students

Students must not use their mobile phones during the school day on the school site, including during lessons, in the time between lessons, at breaktimes and at lunchtimes, unless explicitly authorised by a member of staff (for example, for a specific medical reason).

The expectation is simple: mobile phones and personal devices must not be used, seen or heard at any time during the school day or on school site.

There are only two exceptions to this rule:

• Sixth Form students may use their phones within the Sixth Form Centre only.
• Students with an agreed and verified medical need may use their device where this has been authorised by the school.

For all other students, mobile phones and devices must be switched off and stored in their school bag throughout the day. If a student does not have a school bag, they will be required to hand their phone in to Reception for safekeeping, although all students are expected to bring a school bag.

Mobile phones and devices must not be visible at any point during the school day from the point of entry to the point of exit. This includes carrying phones in pockets or having them partially visible. Where there is a suspicion that a phone is being concealed, staff may use a detection wand to investigate. Mobile phones/devices are now treated as banned items under the new guidance.

Parents and carers are not permitted to contact their child directly via mobile phone/device during the school day. Contact can be made through Reception or the relevant Year Group Team. Likewise, if students need to contact home, appropriate support will be provided through school staff.

Any use of a mobile phone or personal device during the school day will result in a sanction being issued, regardless of the reason or who has made the contact.

Students will be taught the risks that are associated with the use of mobile phones, both in school and more broadly, to make sure they understand the decision to prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day. These risks can include a loss of focus in lessons, classroom disruption and an increase in bullying. Students will be encouraged to see a mobile-phone free environment as desirable and valuable.

5.1 Use of smartwatches by students

The DfE’s statutory mobile phones guidance includes in the term ‘mobile phones’ all devices with communications and smart technology that the school chooses to include in its policy.

Smartwatches are regarded as personal mobile devices and are subject to the same restrictions and sanctions on use as personal mobile phones.

Smartwatches are wristwatches with smart technology in them. They can be used to tell the time, send and receive text and voice messages, make calls and listen to music. Some smartwatches have wellness and health-related features.

5.2 Exceptions

As a school we permit students to use a mobile phone under the following circumstances:

• Mobile phones are permitted on the school bus. Inappropriate use will be sanctioned under the school behaviour policy.
• Sixth Form students may use their phones within the Sixth Form Centre only.
• Students with an agreed and verified medical need may use their device where this has been authorised by the school.

In the case of permission due to agreed and verified medical need, permission will only be granted where there is a documented safeguarding or medical necessity. To request such permission, students or parents/carers should contact the relevant year group team.

Any students who are given permission must then adhere to the school’s code of conduct and acceptable use agreement for mobile phone use (see appendix 1).

Sixth-form students are allowed access to their mobile phones during the school day, to reflect their increased independence and responsibility, but must not compromise our policy on the use of mobile phones for other students.

Therefore, they are only permitted to use their mobile phones or smart devices in the sixth form common rooms only. Misuse of mobile phones or other devices by students in the sixth form will lead to sanctions according to our behaviour policy.

5.3 Sanctions

The sanctions for mobile phone and personal device use are outlined below:

• First incident: Phone confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the school day.
• Second incident: Student placed on a six-week phone ban, requiring the phone to be handed into Reception each morning and collected at the end of the day.
• Further incidents: Continued six-week phone bans will apply.

Refusal to comply with these expectations will be treated as a failure to follow reasonable instructions and as defiance under the school’s Behaviour Policy.

5.4 Authority to Search Devices

In accordance with the Department for Education (DfE) guidance on Searching, Screening and Confiscation, authorised school staff may search a pupil’s mobile phone, tablet or other electronic device where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the device contains prohibited, illegal or harmful material, or where it may have been used to commit an offence, cause harm, facilitate bullying, harassment or other inappropriate behaviour.

Examples of circumstances where a search may be justified include, but are not limited to:

• Suspected cyberbullying, harassment or intimidation of another pupil or member of staff.
• Concerns that a device contains pornographic, violent, extremist or otherwise inappropriate material.
• Concerns that a device contains nude or semi-nude images.
• Reasonable grounds to believe that a device has been used to commit, facilitate or record a criminal offence.
• Concerns that a device contains evidence relating to safeguarding, child protection or welfare concerns.
• Allegations of threatening behaviour, blackmail, coercion, exploitation or abuse.
• Concerns that a pupil or another person may be at risk of harm.

Searches will be conducted lawfully, proportionately and sensitively, with due regard to pupils’ privacy and dignity.

Certain types of conduct, bullying or harassment can be classified as criminal conduct. The school takes such conduct extremely seriously and will involve the police or other agencies as appropriate.

If a student’s behaviour suggests they may be suffering, or at risk of harm, staff will follow the appropriate procedure set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education. This will include speaking with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or deputy, who will consider whether pastoral support, an early intervention, or a referral to children’s social care is appropriate.

6. Use of mobile phones by parents/carers, volunteers and visitors

Parents and carers are encouraged to reinforce and discuss this policy at home as appropriate, including the risks associated with mobile phone use and the benefits of a mobile phone-free environment.

Parents/carers, visitors and volunteers (including governors and contractors) must adhere to this policy as it relates to staff if they are on the school site during the school day.

This means:

• Not taking pictures or recordings of students, unless it’s at a public event (such as a school fair), or of their own child
• Using any photographs or recordings for personal use only, and not posting on social media without consent
• Not using phones in lessons, when working with students or while children are present

Parents/carers, visitors and volunteers will be informed of the rules for mobile phone use when they sign in at Reception or attend a public event at school.

Parents/carers or volunteers supervising school trips or residential visits must not:

• Use their phone to make contact with other parents/carers
• Take photos or recordings of students, their work, or anything else that could identify a pupil

Parents/carers or volunteers supervising trips are also responsible for enforcing the school’s policy for students using their phones but must refer any proposed sanctions to a member of staff, as they do not have the power to search or confiscate devices.

Parents/carers must use Reception as the first point of contact if they need to get in touch with their child during the school day. They must not under any circumstance try to contact their child on their personal mobile during the school day.

7. Loss, theft or damage

The school accepts no responsibility for mobile phones that are lost, damaged or stolen on school premises or transport, during school visits or trips, or while students are travelling to or from school.

Students are solely responsible for their mobile phone and should secure their mobile phones as much as possible, including using passwords or pin codes to protect access to the phone’s functions. Staff must also secure their personal phones, as well as any work phone provided to them. Failure by staff to do so could result in data breaches.

Confiscated mobile phones will be stored securely in a locked cabinet within the main office and returned in accordance with the school’s procedures. While the school will take all reasonable steps to safeguard confiscated devices, it does not accept responsibility for any loss, theft or damage that occurs while the device is in the school’s possession, except where liability arises in law.

Lost phones should be returned to Reception. The school will then attempt to contact the owner.

8. Monitoring and review

The school is committed to making sure that this policy has a positive impact on students’ education, behaviour and welfare.

When reviewing the policy, the school will take into account:

• Feedback from parents/carers and students
• Feedback from staff
• Records of behaviour and safeguarding incidents
• Relevant advice from the DfE, the local authority and any other relevant organisations

If there are any concerns regarding this policy, these should be brought to the attention of the Head of School in a timely manner.

Appendix 1: Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Agreement

For students allowed to bring their phones to school due to exceptional circumstances.

You must obey the following rules if you bring your mobile phone to school:

1. You may not use your mobile phone throughout the school day on school site, including lesson times, in between lessons, breaktime and lunchtime, unless for an agreed specified reason such as a valid medical condition.
2. Phones must not be used in front of other students.
3. You may not use your mobile phone in the toilets or changing rooms. This is to protect the privacy and welfare of other students.
4. You cannot take photos or recordings (either video or audio) of school staff or other students.
5. Under no circumstances should you access social media on your phone during the school day.
6. Under no circumstance must you contact parents, carers, friends or any other individual during the school day using your personal device. If you need to make contact with home, this should be arranged through Reception. The only exception to this rule is in the event of a genuine emergency requiring contact with the emergency services.
7. You must comply with a request by a member of staff to hand over a phone. Refusal to comply is a breach of the school’s behaviour policy and will be dealt with accordingly.
8. Mobile phones are not permitted in any internal or external exam or test environment. If you have a mobile phone, you will be asked to store it appropriately, or turn it over to an exam invigilator, before entering the test room. Bringing a phone into the test room can result in your exam being declared invalid.

Appendix 2: Mobile phone information slip for visitors

Use of mobile phones and similar devices in our school

Our school is a mobile phone-free environment.

• Please keep your mobile phone on silent/vibrate while on the school grounds
• Please do not use phones where students are present. If you must use your phone, you may go to Reception at the front of school.
• Do not take photos or recordings of students (unless it is your own child), or staff
• Do not use your phone in lessons, when working with students or while children are present

The school accepts no responsibility for phones that are lost, damaged or stolen while you are on the school grounds.

A full copy of our mobile phone policy is available on the school website.