Tuxford Academy recognises that mobile phones, cameras and digital devices are now an integral part of our culture and can be of considerable value, particularly in relation to personal safety. However, balanced with this is the need to safeguard children and staff from cyber bullying, inappropriate use of the internet and telecommunications, and the misuse of social media.
Measures are put in place during the school day to mitigate the risks of distraction and misuse, with incidents addressed through standard sanctions, which may include confiscation.
Use of personal electronic devices by students
Students may bring a mobile phone to and from school for personal safety and communication purposes. However, students must adhere to the following expectations:
• Mobile phones must be switched off before students enter the school gates. Phones must be completely switched off and not placed on silent or vibrate.
• Mobile phones must remain switched off and stored in school bags throughout the school day. They must not be carried in blazer, coat or trouser pockets or accessed at any point whilst on the academy site.
• Headphones and earbuds must be stored in school bags throughout the school day. They must not be worn or used anywhere on the academy site during school hours.
• Smart watches may be worn as a standard watch only. All communication, messaging and mobile phone functionality must be disabled and must not be used during the school day.
• Other internet-connected devices must not be used anywhere on the academy site during the school day, unless their use has been specifically authorised by the academy.
• Students must not use personal electronic devices to photograph, film or make audio recordings of staff or students without appropriate authorisation. Recording or sharing images, videos or audio in a manner that breaches the academy’s expectations, safeguarding requirements or Behaviour Policy is not permitted.
• Students are responsible for the safekeeping of their personal electronic devices. The academy accepts no liability for devices that are lost, stolen or damaged.
These expectations apply to all students, including Post 16 students, except where the specific provisions for Post 16 students or school trips set out in this protocol apply.
Post 16 students
Post 16 students are permitted to use mobile phones within designated Post 16 areas for educational purposes and in accordance with the academy’s expectations. Phones must not be used outside these permitted areas, and the mobile phone-free expectations continue to apply elsewhere on the academy site.
School trips and off-site activities
Students are usually permitted to bring and use their mobile phones on school trips, where this is appropriate to the nature and
arrangements of the visit.
However, specific expectations may vary depending on the trip, its activities, destination and safeguarding arrangements. Any trip-specific requirements regarding mobile phones and other personal electronic devices will be communicated to students and parents or carers in advance.
Students must follow the instructions provided by academy staff and comply with any restrictions placed on the use or possession of personal electronic devices during a trip. here specific arrangements have been communicated, these will take precedence over the usual expectations for that visit.
Department of Education guidance
We follow the principles laid out in the Trust behaviour policy (section 2.7). We expect mobile phones and other devices to never hinder learning or contribute to disruption, bullying or abuse. We operate our local arrangements in accordance with the latest Department for Education guidance on use of mobile phones in schools.
Purposes of this protocol
For the purposes of this protocol, personal electronic devices include mobile phones, headphones, earbuds, smart watches and any other portable or internet-connected device capable of communication, recording or accessing online content.
This protocol applies throughout the school day, including lessons, breaktimes, lunchtimes and other social times. Unless otherwise specified in this protocol, the expectations apply from the moment students enter the school gates until they leave the academy site at the end of the school day.
