As a school we are aware that mobile devices are part of today's society and that many parents/carers are keen for their children to have a phone in order to contact home in case of an emergency.

However, we do not want mobile phones to impact our pupils' learning. As a consequence, we have reviewed our policy on mobile phones in school, which is as follows:

• Pupils may bring mobile phones to school but all electronic equipment e.g. airpods, earphones, mobile phone etc, must be kept out of sight in corridors and classrooms.
• We do not want pupils to be distracted, so we ask that devices are turned off and put away when pupils are in lessons. Pupils should be aware that phones ringing or vibrating in lessons is a breach of this policy.
• If a pupil repeatedly breaches our mobile phone policy, this will result in the item being confiscated.
• Following confiscation, the device will have to be collected by a parent/carer. Please note that parents/carers will need to make an appointment to collect the device.

As you may be aware, the use of mobile phones in schools is currently under review by the Department for Education. Please find below the school’s expectations on mobile phone and social media use. 

Social Media

Social media can be a positive tool for students during their time at secondary school. It also presents significant risks that you and your child should be aware of. The school has a strong PSHE programme which consistently educates pupils about social media and risks online. However, this is no substitute for parents/carers actively monitoring their child's engagement with and use of social media. 

We ask all parent/carers to read the school's policy on social media found in the Policies and Documents section of this website. In particular we would ask you to check your child’s use of social media and ensure that;

• Students are not making themselves vulnerable to possible exploitation by having contact with people they do not know.  Please be explicit that friends of friends are also strangers. 
• Students do not upload content that is confidential to school, families and themselves.
• Students do not break the law by uploading anything lewd, sexually explicit, threatening or similarly inappropriate or offensive.
• Students are respectful to other users, particularly those at Gladesmore.
• Students are mindful of their own mental wellbeing when using social media. If you do allow them to engage with social media, please encourage them to seek out positive and affirmative sites or influencers.