The topic of if, and when, a child should be allowed to have a mobile phone, is one that is currently much debated.  The Government’s recent guidance, updated in February this year, states that:  All schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default; anything other than this should be by exception only.

Across the Foundation Senior Schools, pupils are not allowed mobile phones – any that are brought into school must be locked in a pupil’s Yondr pouch during the school day.  Our policy at the Junior School is that no pupil should have a mobile phone or smartwatch in school.  Pupils who travel on school buses may bring in a phone, but a phone without internet connectivity is recommended, and this must be handed in to the office as soon as the pupil arrives in school.  No other pupil should have a phone in school at any time.

However, at home, requests for a mobile phone may be made regularly by children to their parents and careful consideration should be given to the following questions before deciding to allow this.

• Is my child ready for a phone?
• How do I keep my child safe?
• What’s the right approach for our family?
• Are children and phones a good mix?

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