Personal Electronic Devices (Mobile Phones) Policy

Policy details

Date created - 3 May 2023

Date reviewed - 3 May 2023

Date approved - 11 May 2023

Next review date - Summer term 2026

Policy owner - Vice Principal - Culture (Tracey Samuel)

Introduction

Aims

Who is responsible for this policy?

Ownership and Responsibility

Implementation of the Electronic Devices Policy

Sanctions

Introduction

1. At Co-op Academy Manchester, we encourage the use of technology as part of our learning journey for students. When technology is used appropriately, it can increase engagement and support progress. Technology is an integral part of the curriculum and can make information more accessible and dynamic.
2. Technology can also have a detrimental effect upon learning. It can become a persistent distraction, if measures are not taken to manage and monitor its use.
3. An Academy may struggle to foster an effective learning environment if students have access to immediate information in the form of text messages, calls, and access to the internet. In addition, students taking pictures or recording videos when they are supposed to be immersed in their learning is counterproductive.
4. At Co-op Academy Manchester, we understand that parents/carers will provide students with a mobile phone to ensure their safety and security. However, such devices also present a significant safeguarding and data protection risk.
5. Several research studies have been conducted focusing upon the impact of personal electronic devices upon productivity within the classroom:

• Researchers at the London School of Economics assessed how implementing a school-wide ban on mobile phones had a positive effect on pupils’ performance. This was especially true of pupils with low prior attainment, whose test scores improved by 14.23% following a ban on mobile phones. The study reached the conclusion that “Schools could significantly reduce the education achievement gap by prohibiting mobile phone use.” (Beland and Murphy, May 2015).
• Another study published in the Journal of Communication Education found that pupils who were not permitted to bring mobile phones into school knew more and remembered more. Their notes were 62% more detailed than their peers who were permitted to bring their mobile phones to school, and they were able to recall much more information from their classes, resulting in them scoring a grade-and-a-half higher in tests than those who were actively using their mobile phones.
• In a study entitled ‘Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity,’ researchers at The University of Chicago noted that even if mobile phones are turned off, placed face-down or put away, their presence alone reduces pupils’ cognitive capacity, concluding: “As educational institutions increasingly embrace “connected classrooms,” the presence of pupils’ mobile devices in educational environments may undermine both learning and test performance - particularly when these devices are present but not in use.”

6. Mobile phones have contributed to the rise in online bullying, sexting, and data protection incidents where people have been videoed and shared without their consent.
7. As an Academy, we encourage students to talk to each other and develop healthy social interactions and connections, developing friendships. Technology can be a barrier to social engagement and interaction.  
8. This policy sets out the position of Co-op Academy Manchester with regards to personal electronic devices, defined as:

• Mobile Phones
• ‘Smart watches’
• Headphones
• Non-learning ipads/tablets
• Music Players
• Handheld game playing systems such as a Nintendo Switch
• Any other device that can be used for taking photos, recording sound or video, sharing, searching, storing or receiving information.

9. This policy has due regard for statutory guidance and relevant legislation including but not limited to the following:

• DfE (2018) Keeping Children Safe in Education
• DfE (2018) Searching, screening and confiscation
• The Data Protection Act 2018
• the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• The Voyeurism Offences Act (2019)

10. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Academy Safeguarding (Child Protection) Policy, the Powers of Search and Confiscation Policy, The Reasonable Force Policy (Positive Handling) and The Data Protection Policy

Aims

11. To provide a clear framework of expectations in relation to students' use of personal electronic devices in the academy.
12. To keep students safe, happy and well.
13. To minimise distractions in the classroom and ensure optimal behaviour for learning.
14. To enable staff to apply rewards and sanctions in relation to personal electronic device use within the academy
15. To help students recognise and accept responsibility for their actions.

Who is responsible for this policy?

16. The academy has overall responsibility for the implementation of this policy and ensuring its compliance.
17. The Academy Senior Leadership Team has responsibility to ensure the fair application of this policy and all members of staff are responsible for supporting colleagues and ensuring its success.
18. Students are responsible for adhering to the provisions outlined in this policy.

Ownership and Responsibility

19. Students are responsible for their own belongings
20. The academy will not accept responsibility for replacing property that is lost, stolen or damaged.

Implementation of the Electronic Devices Policy

21. The academy has a strict no personal electronic device policy for students, including mobile phones and all other items listed in point 8 above.
22. Personal electronic devices should not be seen or used within the academy during the school day
23. A red line is painted on the floor to provide a visual indication of where this policy starts and ends on site.
24. Students must turn their personal electronic devices (mobile phone) off and store in their bag before crossing the red line. At the end of the school day, students must wait until they have crossed the red line before accessing their device again.
25. Within the red line boundaries, staff will confiscate devices if they are seen.
26. During an initial implementation phase, staff will confiscate a personal device and will allow students to attend their timetabled lesson. However, if a student refuses to hand their device over, they will be referred to the reflection room.
27. Having a personal electronic device (mobile) is a red line behaviour. As a result, a mature policy will mean that students are referred immediately to the reflection room when a staff member confiscates their device.
28. The shift from an implementation phase to mature will be determined by  the principal and will be communicated to parents/carers and students in good time.
29. Before launching the change to policy and at the beginning of each academic year, parents/carers will receive information which will reference the academy’s ban on personal electronic devices.
30. Students will be continually reminded, through assemblies, tutor time and around the school building, that electronic devices are not permitted.
31. Where students may need access to their device for medical or mental health support purposes, this should form part of their risk assessment or care plan. In these exceptional circumstances students would use their phone under the supervision of a key worker. The key worker may be required to store the device on behalf of the student.
32. The policy will be available on the academy website.

Sanctions

33. Students found using a personal electronic device in the academy are subject to the following sanctions:

• Confiscation of their device (parents/carers will be asked to collect the device at their earliest convenience)
• Referral to Reflection Room/ detention at the end of the day
• A meeting with parents/carers for repeated incidents
• A temporary or permanent ban from bringing their mobile phone into school
• In very serious cases, they will be reported to external agencies

34. If a member of staff sees a student’s mobile phone/electronic device within the red line, they will confiscate the mobile phone/electronic device, including earphones and may refer the student directly to the reflection room.
35. Should a student refuse to hand over their electronic device, this will be treated as refusal to follow an instruction from staff and may result in a suspension. As with all misbehaviour, staff will demonstrate unconditional positive regard, deliberate botheredness and compassionate consistency when managing each individual incident.  
36. If students are found using their devices in a way that could present a safeguarding or data protection risk, the matter should be referred to the school’s designated safeguarding lead or data protection officer.
37. Under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019, it is an offence to use devices to record an image beneath a person’s clothing without consent and with the intention of observing, or enabling another person to observe, the victim’s genitals or buttocks (whether exposed or covered with underwear), in circumstances where their genitals, buttocks or underwear would not otherwise be visible, for a specified purpose. This is known as upskirting and will not be tolerated by the school. Despite the name, anyone (including both students and teachers), and any gender, can be a victim of upskirting. Any incidents of upskirting will be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and/or Principal and handled in accordance with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.