Mobile Phones

Ref: DJH/MEE

15 June 2009

Dear Parent/Carer

Mobile Phones

Following a serious incident at the College involving the posting of footage of students on the Internet, I am re-issuing this letter sent last year.

Students are not allowed to bring mobile phones onto the College premises. This has been a clearly stated policy for a number of years and all parents were made aware of this before their child entered the College.

This Policy has been maintained for the following reasons:

  • Mobiles are banned from all external examinations.
  • Infringement of the Examination Board rules regarding mobile phones and other electronic devices can result in disqualification.
  • Mobiles have disrupted internal examinations.
  • Mobiles have disrupted lessons.
  • Mobiles can be used for bullying by text and by phone calls.
  • Mobile phone cameras can be used to take photos of other students for bullying purposes.
  • Mobile phone photos of staff and students have been posted on the internet.
  • Video phones have been used to video staff and students without their consent and some have been published on the internet often with the intent of bringing the College into disrepute.
  • Mobile phones are a prime target for theft either for the SIM card or the phone, or both: mobile phone crime has dramatically increased, rising by 190% since 1995; mobile phones are involved in 28% of all robberies compared with 8% three years ago; for 11 to 15 year olds figures suggest that there are 1507 phone thefts against this age group each year.

In order to protect students from the misuse of phones and to ensure that lessons and examinations are not disrupted, mobile phones will not be allowed in College. Any student bringing a mobile phone into school will initially have the phone confiscated for 5 days on each occasion.

Regular random checks for mobile phones, particularly around external and internal examination times, will take place with the electronic scanning device.

If there is a serious medical or other problem where a mobile is essential for use before or after College, parents must contact a senior member of the Pastoral staff at the College to discuss the issue.

Yours sincerely

Mr D J Hampson
Principal and Chief Executive

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