17 July 2026
Dear Parent/Carers,
Mobile Phones in 2026-27
This is the second letter detailing the changes to school policies resulting from the recent Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, 2026. This letter will explain to all families the school’s approach to the DFE’s now statutory guidance on mobile phones in schools.
Mobile-phone free schools
From September 2026, the statutory guidance for schools states that students “must not have access” to their mobile phones during the school day, including break and lunch time. Our policy will continue to be that students are allowed to bring their mobile phone onto the school site, but that it must be switched off (preferably locked down by a parental control app) and in their school bag during the day. These rules apply to smart watches and other wearable technology as well.
Children are not allowed to carry their phone in their pocket or other part of their clothing (tucked into waistbands or bra straps, etc.)
Use of sanctions
The school will use the full range of sanctions available to successfully enforce the mobile phone policy. If a child is seen with their phone, a media misuse point will be logged with a warning. If the child is seen with their phone for a second time, they will be required to put their phone into a secure pouch for the remainder of the day. Parents will receive a message in MCAS to inform them this action has been taken.
If a child is persistently breaching the mobile phones policy, their pastoral support plan will be amended to include further risk assessment measures. They will be required to put their phone in a secure pouch every morning in their Head of House office. This measure may also be used for a serious one-off incident causing significant harm to another (e.g. a bullying incident).
Staff use of mobile phones
Use of mobile phones for staff is covered by our code of conduct. Staff may only use their mobile phone for personal use during their own breaks and in spaces away from the children. Staff may use their phone for professional purposes such as checking their calendar and using the Bromcom mobile teacher app.
Communication between home and school
We know that many of our families are accustomed to contacting their children via their mobile phones during the school day. This can no longer be accepted. Students with their phone out will always be given a media misuse negative point, irrespective of the reason or the person they were in contact with.
We have been working on our communications policy and procedure. This will be communicated in full at the start of the new school year, when we have finished trialling our new systems. For now, the basics are:
· If you need to get a message to your child during the day, please telephone reception. The office staff will take your message, and it will be passed to your child in their next lesson.
· If your child wishes to get a message to you, they will need to go to student services;
o During break or lunch time
o Or, in an emergency, during lesson time by going to their class for the register to be taken where they will be given a note from their class teacher.
If your child feels unwell, they should go to the medical room during break or lunch time. If they attend during a lesson, they are expected to have a note from their class teacher giving them permission to be out of class and stating what medical attention the student is requesting. Children must speak to the first aid team and not contact their parents directly, as this would be a breach of the mobile phone policy.
During school hours, we are in loco parentis. This means we will act as a responsible parent. Staff will exercise their professional judgement in deciding whether to allow a child out of class to attend student services, for any reason.
Social Media use outside of school
Whilst mobile phones are effectively not allowed in school, the risks associated with unmonitored social media access persist outside of school. We ask parents of children under the age of 13 to adhere to the social media applications’ own age restrictions and not allow them to use these apps. Issues such as bullying and harassment on social media apps for children under 13 years will be considered a safeguarding issue for parents to manage. We further encourage parents of children in all age groups to monitor their child’s social media use, including messaging apps such as WhatsApp, extremely closely and to become familiar with common risks such as children being added to group chats without their consent.
Instructions for students
The rules for mobile phones, along with all key behaviour expectations, are explained to the students on a regular basis, at the start of each term.
The mobile phone policy and the communications policy, which are currently in draft and under review, will be available on the school’s website by 07 September 2026.
With thanks for your continued support.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs H. Jones
Principal
