Pupils at Christ The King School have been told by the new Head Teacher Erin Wheeler that mobile phones and other smart devices are now banned for use during school hours .

She said in a letter...

"I would like to inform you about a change in our expectations regarding the use of mobile phones in school.

Christ the King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre accepts that mobile phones (and other portabledevices) are now part of young people’s culture and way of life and can have considerable value, particularly inrelation to individuals’ safety.

Whilst having clear benefits, they can also present a considerable distraction topupils’ learning and engagement. We understand that pupils may wish to carry a mobile phone in order tocontact their parents in an emergency whilst travelling to and from school. Mobile phones can, however, leadto safeguarding and wellbeing concerns such as digital addiction, online bullying, disruption to lessons andinappropriate internet usage.

Whilst we acknowledge the importance of mobile phones, we have come to the conclusion that they can havea significant negative effect and we have a duty to minimise this within school and that we promote a healthy,balanced approach to mobile technology with our pupils. For these reasons, pupils’ use of mobile phones isnot permitted during school hours.

Mobile phones are expected to be turned off at the school gate and shouldnot be seen or heard whilst pupils are on school property. At the end of the school day, pupils are only allowedto use their phone once they have exited the site.

Pupils must be beyond the school gates before their mobilephone should be in view.This is for pupils in Year groups 7-11 as Sixth Form students are allowed to use mobile phones in the specificdesignated areas but not in lessons or on corridors.

There are no justifiable reasons why pupils should have their phone out at any point during the school day.

Ifthey are caught with their phone out during the school day, whether actively using it or not, their phone willbe confiscated and we will require parents/carers to come to school to collect it at their earliest convenience.

If there is an emergency that requires communication with home, pupils must speak to a member of staff(teaching or support) who will deal with the matter. Likewise, if parents need to contact their child they mustdo so through the school office.Please note, this will take effect from Tuesday 1 October. Thank you in advance for your support in thismatter.

Interesting to see how it pans out, will we have parents pushing phones through the fence along with the chips.

I'm surprised they where allowed them any way. Both my kids schools don't allow them during school time.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Pupils at Christ The King School have been told by the new Head Teacher Erin Wheeler that mobile phones and other smart devices are now banned for use during school hours .

The next few weeks should be interesting. Very good move by the school. Watch this space.

When I was at school during 1969 to 1974 there were obviously NONE of the following,Computers or Mobile phones,and the ONLY time you could even use a basic calculator was when in a normal maths lesson,as they were NOT even allowed to be used during an exam,and if you were found using a calculator during an exam,then you would be banned from doing the exam,and be sent out of the classroom.More schools should follow this headmasters idea,and then pupils will LEARN how to do working out in their own head,instead of them using technology,which IS a form of cheating anyway to pass an exam.

Originally Posted by SteveandLois

When I was at school during 1969 to 1974 there were obviously NONE of the following,Computers or Mobile phones,and the ONLY time you could even use a basic calculator was when in a normal maths lesson,as they were NOT even allowed to be used during an exam,and if you were found using a calculator during an exam,then you would be banned from doing the exam,and be sent out of the classroom.More schools should follow this headmasters idea,and then pupils will LEARN how to do working out in their own head,instead of them using technology,which IS a form of cheating anyway to pass an exam.

Who remembers using log tables or a slide rule? Now thankfully lost to the onward march of technology but at least no batteries to replace or recharge.

My Wife has already had a run in with this delightful person. All I can say is if she "talks" to Pupils like she "talks" to parents they I can understand why the School has disciplinary problems?
One question, is the School, or are they going to get insurance in case the phones they will inevitably confiscate are damaged or lost while in School care?
My Children will no longer be allowed to take their phones to School which they had for reasons of contact. I will now contact the school in the event of needing to change pick up arrangements.

Originally Posted by rolling-thunder

My Wife has already had a run in with this delightful person. All I can say is if she "talks" to Pupils like she "talks" to parents they I can understand why the School has disciplinary problems?
One question, is the School, or are they going to get insurance in case the phones they will inevitably confiscate are damaged or lost while in School care?
My Children will no longer be allowed to take their phones to School which they had for reasons of contact. I will now contact the school in the event of needing to change pick up arrangements.

You sound like a bloke who could have an argument with himself in a phone booth. I don't know who I feel more sorry for...your wife or your kids.

Originally Posted by rolling-thunder

My Wife has already had a run in with this delightful person. All I can say is if she "talks" to Pupils like she "talks" to parents they I can understand why the School has disciplinary problems?
One question, is the School, or are they going to get insurance in case the phones they will inevitably confiscate are damaged or lost while in School care?
My Children will no longer be allowed to take their phones to School which they had for reasons of contact. I will now contact the school in the event of needing to change pick up arrangements.

hmm how did parents manage pick arrangements pre mobiles....me and my siblings were never picked up and had a 2 mile walk...its now a case of snowflake parents that cant handle real life....our heads ruled with an iron fist and had no regard for soppy wet parents....it all worked out well for us..you are the problem not your kids or the head..

Originally Posted by rolling-thunder

My Wife has already had a run in with this delightful person. All I can say is if she "talks" to Pupils like she "talks" to parents they I can understand why the School has disciplinary problems?
One question, is the School, or are they going to get insurance in case the phones they will inevitably confiscate are damaged or lost while in School care?
My Children will no longer be allowed to take their phones to School which they had for reasons of contact. I will now contact the school in the event of needing to change pick up arrangements.

Which is as it should be.

Have your child put their phone in their locker or turned off in their bag.

You should not be contacting your children in school unless it's an emergency in which case go through the school as they will need to know anyway.

As for picking them up from high school...…..really...… show them where the nearest bus stop is. Ours travel 6 miles each way all on their lonesome.

My understanding is that this school is just bringing itself into line with other schools who also have this policy.

The USE of these devices is prohibited - what that means is that they can take them with them to school but cannot use them on school premises ... they can have them in their pockets/bags but switched off.

Once they're out the gate they can switch them on again and everyone is happy.

As for contacting them during the day to change any arrangements, if a text/voicemail (which they can access when they exit the school gates) is not good enough (i.e. something more urgent or time critical) you can always ring the school office and ask for a message to be passed on - we did this (at this particular school) regularly in the past and it worked well.

Originally Posted by local

Interesting to see how it pans out, will we have parents pushing phones through the fence along with the chips.

Or behind the bike sheds again.

Originally Posted by thediscovolante

hmm how did parents manage pick arrangements pre mobiles....me and my siblings were never picked up and had a 2 mile walk...its now a case of snowflake parents that cant handle real life....our heads ruled with an iron fist and had no regard for soppy wet parents....it all worked out well for us..you are the problem not your kids or the head..

You and me both. When I started school in 1952, we didn't have a phone in our house, let alone mobile phones.

Originally Posted by bigdavesdad

Or behind the bike sheds again.

They were used for other things in my days at school................No NOT that type of thing.............They were used as the Smoking areas,out of the sight of teachers,who were normally smoking in their Staff room during break time.

Originally Posted by Ceam

Which is as it should be.

Have your child put their phone in their locker or turned off in their bag.

You should not be contacting your children in school unless it's an emergency in which case go through the school as they will need to know anyway.

As for picking them up from high school...…..really...… show them where the nearest bus stop is. Ours travel 6 miles each way all on their lonesome.

My Son had his phone on the desk because all of his clothes were soaked. It was off and the Teacher gave him permission to put the phone on the desk {this was before the announcement about phones in school}. It wasn't on but then the Teacher changed their mind and tried taking the phone off him. He has been punished now even though he doesn't understand what he did wrong. He is Autistic with a diagnosis of ADHD and quite simply can not be trusted to catch the Bus. His phone is for emergency communication.
I'd like to point out my Son, not my Wife was in the wrong so this women had no right to scream at my Wife. My Wife dealt with her in a far calmer manner than I would ,which is for the best.