CONTENTS:

1. Why do this?
2. Pouch specific questions
3. Unlocking questions
4. Beginning of the day questions
5. Consequences questions
6. Other questions

Why do this?

Recent research and our parent survey of 269 families showed strong support for reducing mobile phone use during the school day. Many parents expressed concerns about:

• Distraction from learning
• Social media conflicts and messaging during lessons
• Online bullying and peer pressure
• Students struggling to focus without checking their phones

Our aim is to create a school environment where students can focus on learning, build positive relationships and enjoy break times without the pressures of social media. Removal of mobile phones from the school experience for students will also help our ongoing safeguarding of the students during the school day and contribute positively towards the overall wellbeing of our young people.

Schools that have introduced phone pouch systems report:

• Improved focus in lessons
• Reduced disruption from messaging and notifications
• Fewer social media conflicts during the school day
• Better social interaction between students
• Improved student wellbeing

Our goal is to help students develop healthy and balanced relationships with technology.

 

Pouch specific questions

•  Do families have to pay for the pouch?

For each current student’s first pouch, the school has asked for a contribution of £10. In future, new pouches will cost £15.

• Do we have to pay to replace it if we break it?

Yes, if is pouch is lost or broken/damaged then it will need to be replaced at a cost of £15.

• If a phone breaks in a pouch, is it the school’s responsibility?

No, the pouch is padded and will protect the phone during the day. The pouch remains in each student’s possession throughout the day and should be safely within their bag.

• How do they lock?

Each pouch has a magnetic locking device where a small pin is pushed in to a lock and can only be opened by the correct shaped magnets at the unlocking stations. The mechanism is similar to the security tags used in clothes shops.

• What happens if a phone is accidentally locked in to a pouch at home?

It will have to be unlocked next time the student is in school. Students are advised to lock their empty pouch after removing the phone each day to avoid this happening, then unlock the next morning as they enter school and put their phone inside.

• Can you personalise your pouch?

Each student’s name will be written clearly on the pouch by the school. No other graffiti or markings should be on the pouch. Any vandalised or damaged pouches will need to be replaced at a cost to the student and their family.

• Will the pouches fit all phone sizes?

Yes.

• How bulky are the pouches?

The pouches are a light weight, slightly padded material. They are also lined with a reflective material that blocks signal to the phone to avoid students still receiving notifications and having their phone vibrate or alert them in the pouch and providing temptation to try and use it. For this reason, phones should be switched ff or on aeroplane mode inside the pouch to avoid the battery being drained during the day.

• What happens if I spill something on the pouch?

The pouches are water repellent (not water proof), so if liquid spills on to them they will dry out and still be completely useable.

 

Unlocking questions

•  Where will unlocking magnets be located?

We will have a number of magnets available for unlocking at each exit from the school site, including towards the back gate. A number will be positioned along the front of school for easy access at the start and end of the day. By placing multiple magnets in a number of locations, we will avoid long queues at the end of the day when everyone is leaving.

• Will students risk missing the bus while waiting to unlock their phones?

If there is a small queue and students are concerned, members of the senior leadership team on duty at the end of the day will also have a hand held magnet to assist any student still needing it unlocked as they go to their bus.

• What happens if you forget to unlock your phone?

Staff will be on hand to remind students as they are leaving, especially in the early weeks while this is a new part of our daily routine in school.

• Will students be able to unlock their phones during the day at these stations?

No, the stations will only be accessible at the end of the school day. If there is an emergency students can go to reception, safe or student services to contact home. Parents who need to contact their child urgently should continue to call the school reception, who will pass messages on immediately.

• What if students need to leave school during the day for an appointment?

Reception will have an unlocking device for students to unlock their phones as they sign out.

• What happens if a student has a sports fixture or club after school?

Staff leading fixtures will take a handheld unlocking device to ensure everyone’s pouch can be opened before they leave. After clubs, the unlocking stations on school site will still be accessible. 

 

Beginning of the day questions

 

• Can students still use their phones until form time?

No, phones need to be put in to pouches and locked in as soon as they enter school site. Staff will be on duty throughout the morning checking that this is the case.

• What if students are late to school? How does that work?

Students who are late should enter site in the same way that they do now, locking their phone in to their pouch as they do so.

• Can students stand outside the school gates using their phones?

No, as soon as students arrive to Cox Green they should enter site and lock away their phone. This will help encourage face to face interaction and ensure the school day remains mobile phone-free. . In addition, this will create a significant bottleneck that could lead to overcrowding in the area.

• How will staff check students are using the pouches?

Every morning in tutor time, students will need to place their locked pouch on their desk for checking. If there is any concern that the student is not using the pouch correctly, we will investigate this further. Spot checks will be undertaken to ensure everyone is following the policy fairly. We will do our very best to to ensure that these are as brief and unobtrusive as possible.

• What if a student puts a dummy phone in the pouch and keeps their real phone?

If students are caught with a dummy phone it will be dealt with in the same way as somebody who is caught with their phone not in a pouch. Using a dummy phone or putting something else in to the pouch is a clear attempt to not follow the rules of the school and will be treated as such (please see the section on consequences)

• Can a student choose to leave their phone at home / what about students who don’t have a mobile phone?

Students are welcome to leave their devices at home if they prefer. We will undertake spot checks to ensure students are doing this and not intentionally misleading staff. If they are found to have a device, consequences will be put in place (see below).

 

Consequences questions:

a) What are the consequences if a student is found with a phone not in a pouch?

Students found in possession of a device during the school day will have their phone confiscated until the next collection day (Wednesday and Monday will be the collection days). On next collection day, students can collect their phones from reception at 3pm.

For example, if a student is found with a phone on a Monday, they will be able to collect it from reception at 3pm on Wednesday. If a student’s phone is confiscated on a Thursday, they will be able to collect in on the following Monday.

If a student is found to have put a dummy phone in their pouch and have an additional phone in their bag, these same rules apply.

b) What if a student refuses to use their pouch?

Using the pouch will be part of the school’s expectations for mobile phone use. Students who refuse to comply will receive a behaviour sanction in line with the school behaviour policy.

Our focus will be on supporting students to understand the purpose of the system and helping them adjust to the new routine.

c) What happens if a student forgets their pouch?

Students who forget their pouch will need to hand their phone in and collect this at 3pm. Need clarity on where – member of SLT in a central location? Fifield?

If a student repeatedly forgets their pouch, thee will be an escalation of consequences following the behaviour policy.

d) Why is the consequence for being caught with a mobile phone becoming more severe?

We are introducing this policy because we believe in the value of a phone free school, as outlined above. As such, we want to make sure there is clarity and consistency for all students about our expectations and the importance of this new system.  

 

Other questions

a) How will students access Edulink if they cannot use their phone during the day?

Very few students check their timetable during the day once they get used to it, however to help with this we will be issuing every student a copy of their timetable on card each half term for them to carry around in their bag. If there are changes to their timetable, we will issue them a new one. Tutors will remind students in the morning about reflections, and we will encourage them to make sure they know if they have a reflection before they come in to school on the relevant days.

b) What about students with diabetes who need their phones for medical reasons?

A very small number of our students have urgent medical needs that require a mobile phone. For these students, we have a medical issue pouch with a different mechanism which the school will issue to them directly. These pouches can be closed but do not lock. These students should keep their phone in the pouch all day, unless they are using it for a medical reason.

c) Does this apply to students in year 12 and 13?

To reflect the different nature of the school experience for students in the sixth form, they will not be using pouches. The current sixth form mobile phone policy will remain in place, where they can use their phones in sixth form specific areas only.

d) Will students still use technology in lessons?

Yes. Technology remains an important part of learning. Students will continue to use school computers, laptops and other educational technology where appropriate. The pouch system only applies to personal mobile phones.