Mobile Phones

 

Digital Safety: Working in partnership between school and home

At Churchdown we want to provide guidance and tips for how we will all work together so that we can ensure all our students are safe – this includes how we interact with the digital world. Our students will need these skills as they progress through life towards their own ambitious future.

What does the research say around digital safety?

Research published by the University of Birmingham with the findings first reported by the BBC (March 2026) suggests that Strict phone bans at school are not enough to tackle the harmful effects of children's screen time alone. The study from academics at the University of Birmingham found strict phone bans were not a "silver bullet", and in some cases did not stop teenagers prioritising screen time over sleep, homework and physical activity outside school. The study suggests restrictive policies in schools boost face‑to‑face interaction at school, but can also contribute to some pupils using their phones more at home, affecting sleep and physical activity.

Therefore, this research supports the need for home and school to work in partnership to ensure all children are safe and healthy when using mobile devices.

School phone bans not enough to cut screen time alone, study suggests - BBC News

What is the position of Churchdown School with regards to mobile phones?

The DFE have moved to towards a total ban of mobile phones in schools and so Churchdown School is now required to comply. My feelings on this as Headteacher is that the impact will be minimal. Students screen time on social media and games in school is already low as school is a very controlled environment with clear boundaries in place. However, I feel there could be an unintended consequence with the school ban: that your child may not feel comfortable speaking with a teacher about any concerns, safeguarding or otherwise, with their phones. This is because, as a result of the ban, children may see phones as an ‘out of school matter’. This will not be the case but a perception, nonetheless. Therefore, it is very important that we are all skilled and aware of how to best support all children in being healthy and safe with their use of mobile devices, no matter the time of day or location. We will not use our mobile phones in Churchdown, but we will still discuss them when needed.

What is being asked of all parents and carers?

All parents and carers are being asked to support the rules around mobile phones and support when their part in the phone strategy is needed – this may be to come to school to collect their child’s phone should it be confiscated.  

Most importantly, we are asking that all parents and carers use the guidance published below to ensure their child is safe away from school when using their mobile device. We also ask that the strong working partnership between home and school and that any unsafe behaviour or concerns are reported to school quickly. We will always help and all information is helpful when concerned with safeguarding.  

What is the guidance given to parents and carers of Churchdown to promote healthy habits with mobile phones away from school?

As parents and carers, it is important to decide how best you can support your child around the safe use of mobile phones. Therefore, what follows are guidelines that can be followed or adapted to use at home.

Get to know the child’s device/s settings and what parental controls are available. It is possible to restrict screen time and close down certain apps at certain times of the day. The app designer’s job is to create a platform that attracts children to engage with it and so can become addictive. Therefore, by reducing the time children have on the different platforms can help develop the healthy habits we all want.

Talk to children about what boundaries and risks we are all looking to avoid and how parental controls can help. This is important so that any additional boundaries that are put in place are understood. The boundaries and rules can also be made in partnership with the children to help with this, so it’s not seen as a punishment. In school we have started this discussion with our School Parliament, so any new rules are done with the students and not to them.  

Keep the topic of phones, social media and gaming in the open, and part of regular conversations. This is important so the children know they can come to us if they need to. (This is primarily why phones have not been banned in school). It also makes the phone topic more open and okay to talk about.

I have provided a link to an excellent resource that has been developed by Vodafone and the NSPCC which provides detailed guidance around how to put into action the advice listed above. The guidance also includes other excellent helpful tips such as limiting time of specific apps or restricting the use of your child’s phone after a certain time:

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/digital-parenting/digital-parenting-pro/

There is also further guidance provided by following the additional link below. The guidance is focussed on Parental controls guides where you can find step-by-step guides to help you layer up parental controls across networks, device/s and apps, so your children can have safer online experiences as they grow.

Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support - Internet Matters

 

Mobile Phone Safety: Rules and Guidance for Churchdown School

We will be following these simple rules:

• Phones should be switched off and in the students’ bags before coming onto school site. The phone will always remain under the responsibility of the students.
• Tutors, as part of the tutor routine, will check phones are turned off and in the students’ bag by referencing this expectation. It is the students’ responsibility to follow this guidance as they currently do with external exams.
• Students who have their phone out will receive a tick on their standards card under ‘conduct’. If a student consistently breaks this rule, they will be banned from having a phone in school.  
• If a student does not turn the phone off and put the phone away in their bag instantly when asked, the phone will be confiscated by a member of SLT. Parents will be notified via email that their child has had their phone confiscated and will be asked to collect the phone from reception. This is the only way the phone can be collected from school.  
• If a parent arrives at school as a result of their child calling them and without an appointment, it will be discussed with the parent that this is unacceptable use of a phone by the student. The student will receive a tick on their standards card. If this becomes a pattern of behaviour from an individual student, they will be banned from having a phone on school premises.
• Homework and student messages, as well as questionnaires, will still be put on Satchel One as students are asked to access this platform away from school and so this is not mobile phone reliant. Should they need access to Satchel One in school, students are able to visit the computer rooms or library.
• In a very small number of lessons, students will require their phones to document their coursework (This is predominately in DT and Art Photography). Students will be able to access their phones only with the permission of their teacher. Phones will then be turned off and returned to their school bags before the students leave the lesson. 
• With regards to trips and visits, phones will be expected to be turned off and in students’ bags at all times, unless permission has been given by the teacher for a specific use. This may include calling home to notify parents of a later return to school, taking photos on a photography trip or other learning opportunities.
• On a residential trip, if a parent or carer is concerned about phones being in bedrooms, then they have the power to put parental restrictions on their child’s phone and shut it down in the evening. It will not be the responsibility of the staff to take phones in each evening.
• As is normal practice for each residential trip, there is a parent information evening. At this evening, specific guidance may be given around mobile phone use for that trip. Parents can also speak with staff should they want to about this matter.
• Some students require their mobile phone for medical reasons, most commonly diabetes and recording blood sugar levels. Students who require their phones for this reason need to speak with their Head of Year to put in place any specific arrangements.

 

How will we support the students and parents?

• Parents and carers will be given the above information, along with the rationale, at parent’s information evening. This information is also published on the school website and has been sent home via a parent mail.
• This guidance will be in the staff handbook and can be directly referenced in parental conversations or meetings should it be needed.
• Students will be given the expectations in assembly, so they are clearly understood.