Mobile Phone Information
Mobile device information
All Years
Mobile phones / devices are banned from Plymouth High School for Girls and there is zero tolerance for students using a mobile phone on the school site.
Students are permitted to bring their phone to school as we know that for many students their bus pass or means of payment is on their phone and many parents appreciate the geopositioning facility that their children’s phone provides. However, phones must be away in bags (except year 7 who will have handed theirs in, see below), not blazer pockets, and they must be switched off whilst students are on the school site.
Boxes are available at reception for students to hand their phone in during the school day should they wish. We are mindful that some students may be worried about leaving their phone unattended in their bag and some are concerned that they may struggle to resist the temptation to look at their phone during the day. Students can use voluntary phone storage should they wish. The phones will be kept in individual wallets and held securely at reception. Students would collect their phones at the end of the day.
Smart watches can be worn, but must not mirror phone activity during the day or be internet enabled. In short, as long as they only operate as a watch, they can be worn. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the watch only operates as a watch and is not internet or Wi-Fi enabled during the day. Should a student use the Smart facilities of the watch during the day, we will treat that in the same way as a student using their phone.
Year 7
All students in year 7 must hand their phones in during their tutor period at the beginning of the day. This is a mandatory requirement. They are kept in individual wallets in secure boxes which are stored in the reception for the duration of the school day. Mobile phones are then returned to Year 7 students at the end of P5.
Please note that the use of a phone is not permitted once entering the school site. Therefore, students should not use their phone between entering school and handing it in.
Year 8 to 11
Phones must be switched off and away in school bags (not blazer pockets) from when students arrive on site and until they leave.
Year 11 are permitted to take their phones with them (and use them) if they choose to leave the site for lunch. Phones must be switched off and put away upon returning to school.
Sixth Form
Sixth form students may use their phones in the sixth form study centre only. At all other times, the phones should be away in their bags before they enter the school site and until they leave.
Sixth form students are not be permitted to use their phones whilst moving about on the school site, and they are not be able to use their phones in lessons other than under the express permission of their teacher. Express permission to use a phone in lessons would be rare and only for capturing crucial learning information that might otherwise be lost. Almost all learning information is currently captured on Teams, so we would not expect there to be many occasions where permission was given. Phone use in lessons is not be permitted for research, as a calculator or to listen to music.
Sixth form students may use their tablet in class for taking notes if they wish, but they are not permitted to access messaging services or social media. In short, the tablet must not be used as a phone replacement.
After School Cubs
Students attending an after school club are able to access their phones after school for checking bus/train/pick up times and to communicate with their family/friend for collection or the walk home. Students are not be able to use their phone for any other purpose. Students should ask the member of staff running the club for permission to use their phone and state the reason for the use.
More vulnerable children / medical alerts
If your child relies on their phone to support an enhanced need, please contact Mrs Payne (SendCo and designated safeguarding lead) at Sam.Payne@phsg.tsat.uk. Unless an alternative provision has been agreed in advance with Mrs Payne, all students will be required to follow the policy.
Sanctions
In the very unlikely event that a student does not follow the mobile phone policy, we have a simple sanction system. If a student is found with their phone out during the day, it will be confiscated for the remainder of that day and an after-school 1 hour detention will be set for the following day.
The introduction of this policy is designed to better support students and protect them from the negative impact of inappropriate phone use. To come into line with most secondary schools across the country and in line with the 2024 guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Education.
How do I contact my child whilst they are in school?
If you need to get a message urgently to your child when they are in school, please contact our reception team, who will be happy to help. If your child feels unwell, whist at school, they are able to access our student support base who will contact parents as necessary.
Outside of school use
PHSG endorses and supports the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance on screen use. In particular, we encourage parents to ensure smart devices are placed outside their children's bedrooms at night. Having a period of time at home where smart devices are put away is a good strategy for inhibiting the semi-dependence that some young people have on their smart devices.
Parents should continue to be mindful about the amount of time their children spend accessing social media and keep communicating with them about the need to maintain a healthy balance of offline as well as online activity.