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Dear Parents and Carers,
Update to Mobile Phone Expectations
As part of our continued commitment to maintaining a calm, focused and safe learning environment, we are writing to inform you of an important update to the Academy’s mobile phone expectations within our behaviour policy based on the latest government guidance.
From Monday 11th May, all students who bring a mobile phone into school must ensure that it remains switched off and stored securely inside their bag for the entirety of the school day. Mobile phones must not be carried in trouser pockets, blazer pockets or any other item of clothing.
If a mobile phone is seen in a pocket, or otherwise not stored in a bag, it will be confiscated in line with our updated behaviour policy.
This clarification strengthens our existing expectations and is intended to remove ambiguity, support consistency across the Academy, and reduce the distraction and disruption caused by mobile phones during the school day.
The academy’s approach is fully aligned with the latest Department for Education guidance on mobile phones in schools, which states that:
“All schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default.”
The guidance further explains that schools are expected to prohibit access to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, social times and movement between lessons, and that staff should enforce these expectations consistently.
The Department for Education has highlighted a number of reasons for these expectations, including:
- improving focus and concentration in lessons
- reducing classroom disruption
- supporting positive behaviour
- helping to safeguard students online
- reducing opportunities for bullying and social conflict during the school day
We appreciate that many families wish their child to carry a phone for travel or safety reasons before and after school. Students may continue to bring phones to the academy; however, once on site they must remain switched off and stored in bags until the end of the school day.
We ask for your support in reinforcing this expectation with your child before they leave for school each morning. Working together will help us maintain a positive learning culture where all students can thrive. If you do have any questions please contact us using the details at the top of this letter.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours faithfully,
Mr P Wilson
Head of Petworth College | Designated Safeguarding Lead | Behaviour Lead
