Mobile Phone Policy
The following guidelines are issued to parents and pupils to explain the School’s policy on the possession and use of mobile telephones in school.
- It is accepted that some pupils may need to have a mobile telephone with them in school to enable contact with home outside normal school hours. However, the telephone should only be used irregularly when a genuine need arises and should not be allowed to disrupt the working routine.
- If a parent wishes their son or daughter to have a mobile telephone in school then it will be understood that the pupil and their parent(s) agree to abide by the following code of conduct:
- The telephone is the responsibility of the pupil concerned and all reasonable measures must be taken to ensure its security.
- Ryde School cannot accept any responsibility for loss, theft or damage to a pupil’s mobile telephone but will investigate any reported loss to try to assist with the return of the telephone to the owner.
- Mobile telephones must be handed in to a teacher during games or activities, together with any other valuables. They must not be left unattended in public areas or changing rooms.
- Mobile telephones must be switched off during lesson times to prevent any disruption to the academic day. This includes the use of mobile phones as calculators. Phones are not an acceptable substitute for calculators.
- Pupils must not use their mobile telephones to make calls in public areas or whilst walking around school. Pupils must be discreet when using their phones.
- Pupils must not send inappropriate text or picture messages or make nuisance calls to other members of the school community.
- Pupils must not use camera or videophones to take photographs or video clips in school or on school outings/fixtures without permission from a member of staff.
- If a mobile telephone rings during a lesson or it is used inappropriately during the school day it should be confiscated by the member of staff and handed to the Deputy Headmaster for return to the pupil at the end of the day.
Further breaches of the code may result in an extension to this confiscation or a requirement for the parents of the pupil concerned to prevent their son or daughter bringing a mobile into school.
