From Tuesday 7th June, we will be modifying our approach to students’ use of mobile phones within the school day.
At present, we allow all students to bring phones to school with them, and this will certainly continue. As parents, you have told us that you view the mobile phone as an integral safety device for the journey to and from school. Like you, we are firmly focused on the safety of all of our students this is why, unlike many other schools nationally, we will not be imposing a blanket ban on mobile phones.
Currently, students are allowed to use phones before registration time, at break time and at lunch time. In comparison to many other schools this is an extremely fair approach. As a school, we will continue with this very fair approach, not least because we believe in preparing students for the world of work; a world where mobile phone use during break times will almost certainly be allowed.
At the moment, students are forbidden from using their phones during registration, in lessons and between lessons. The rationale for this has always been to replicate the world of work and ensure high levels of focus. Where students do infringe these rules, sanctions are of course applied.
However, in recent months despite regular reminders, an increasing number of students are persistently using their phones on their way to and from lessons which is, invariably, making them late to those lessons. Once in the lessons, students’ focus is at times diverted from their learning focus to that of their phone, despite the fact that we have clear sanctions in place.
Therefore, from Tuesday 7th June, we will be modifying our approach to further encourage students to adhere to our very fair systems.
Where a student is using a mobile phone at a time when they should not be doing so, it will be confiscated and stored securely for them to collect at the end of that same school day. We will keep a record of any such confiscations.
Where a student has their phone confiscated for a second time in a half term, that phone will be securely stored and will only be released to a family member, named on our computer records and on production of identification. Any subsequent confiscations within a half term will be treated in exactly the same way.
At Malet Lambert, our core purpose is to evolve learning and we fully recognise that all technology, including mobile phones, can enhance learning when used appropriately. That is why some of our staff will be allowing the use of mobile phones in a very structured way, in parts of their lessons. Where staff do allow the use of mobile phones at certain times, for research purposes for example, the teacher will make it very clear to students by telling them and displaying a green card in the classroom. For clarity, a mobile phone would never be confiscated from a student who is using it under these circumstances.
As a school, we pride ourselves on early, clear communication about change, which is why we are writing to you so far in advance, and have planned a thorough awareness campaign with students through assemblies, notices on the plasma screens and the website to name just a few strategies. This letter is going home as a hard copy, accompanied by a text reminder. This letter will also be e-mailed to all parents for whom we hold an up to date valid e-mail address.
In summary then, our change of approach, starting on Tuesday 7th June, will be:
We are inviting any parents with any concerns or questions, to arrange a personalised meeting with Mr Fenna through our Administration Manager, Claire Hairsine.
If you do wish to arrange a meeting about our changes to mobile phones, please contact Claire Hairsine by Friday 22nd April to arrange this. We will then write to you all again in May, with a list of frequently asked questions and answers as part of our commitment to working in close partnership with all parents.
We thank you for your continued support.