Mobile Phone Policy

Introduction

Following extensive stakeholder consultation, our mobile phone policy for the 2025-26 academic year is summarised below. Please be aware that our policy has different requirements for different year groups as outlined.

Parents are reminded, as outlined in our previous communications that the school will be smartphone-free for students in Years 7 -11 by the start of the academic year 2026-27

We have evaluated our policy in accordance with our equalities duty. Parents of students with identified Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) who wish to discuss the provision for reasonable adjustments to this policy can contact the team via our email phones@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk  .

Should you wish to provide any further feedback or have any queries, please contact us via phones@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk  

Key Policy Requirements for Year 7 & 8 Students

While Year 7 & 8 students are permitted to bring a mobile phone to school, this must be a traditional non-smart phone device (sometimes called a traditional/brick phone).  These devices are characterised by their relatively low monetary value, alongside their basic appearance and functionality. Acceptable models under this policy would include the Nokia 105 or 110, as well as the IMO Dash.  These devices are available on the 4G network from a range of providers and will remain viable once the 2 & 3G networks are deactivated in the near future.  All devices should be marked clearly with the student’s name in case they are misplaced.

For the sake of clarity and avoidance of doubt, Year 7 & 8 students are not permitted to bring to school any smartphone device, which would include, but are not restricted to, the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Motorola Razr or OnePlus models.  We ask that parents support the school in enforcing this policy. The school will review acceptable models on an annual basis and will update parents accordingly. Decisions relating to the compliance of phone models with the school’s policy will be determined by the Heads of Lower / Middle / Upper School and parents are urged to check suitability before proceeding with the purchase of a new phone should there be any ambiguity.

Students are also permitted to bring internet-enabled tracker devices to school, e.g. Apple/Amazon tags, should parents wish to track their child’s journey to and from school in real time. These devices should be stored securely in the child’s bag or on their person during the school day.

Both traditional/brick phone devices and any tracking tags must be registered with us.  The registration online form can be accessed here.  This process requires provision of a mobile phone’s IMEI number which can usually be accessed by typing *#06# into the home screen.

A registered traditional/brick phone device can be retained on the student’s person during the school day but must be switched off whilst on the school site, i.e. before they enter the premises and kept out of sight, e.g. in a locker or the child’s bag.  The device must only be switched on once the student has left the premises at the end of the school day.

Should a student wish to make contact with a parent during the school day, they should approach the Pastoral Assistant for their year group, who can be located in the Heads of Learning Office.  Alternatively, they should report to the Attendance Office or the main School Reception.  Likewise a parent who wishes to contact their child during the school day, should do so through the main school number 0208 670 7575 and ask to speak to Reception.  

Devices that are used in contravention of these rules or which are found to be unregistered, will either be confiscated by staff or retained by students but put in a pouch with controlled access by the school.  This approach for our Year 7 & 8 students will progress on a rolling basis as they move into higher year groups.  Please note on a third occasion of a mobile device being confiscated, there will be no option for a parent or guardian to collect the device before the expiry of the three-day period. On a fourth or additional occasion of confiscation, the school reserves the right to charge a £50 returnable deposit for the use of a smartphone on-site due to the additional investment of staff time associated with such devices both inside and outside of the school.

Please be advised that the school reserves the right to impose an additional sanction, in line with our published Achievement and Behaviour Policy, where a student refuses to hand over a device when asked to or in cases where the student’s attitude or behaviour towards a member of staff attempting to implement school policy is deemed unacceptable.   This includes passing the device to the police where it is believed there could be evidence of criminal activity.

Key Policy Requirements for Year 9-11 Students

For students in Years 9 to 11 from September 2025, we recognise the practicalities and realities of a sudden change of policy in regard to mobile devices. Therefore, students in these groups are currently permitted to bring a smartphone to school and to retain these on their person during the school day on the strict understanding that they are not seen and are switched off at all times.  This approach will be strictly enforced and we shall ensure that any such devices used in contravention of the rules are confiscated by staff or placed in a pouch controlled by the school as with Year 7.  

Our policy incorporates a variated approach for the return of confiscated mobile phones, in line with the majority of other Southwark schools.  This policy will allow for the usual return of any confiscated traditional/brick phone at the end of the school day, while any unauthorised use resulting in the confiscation of a smart phone regardless of year group, will be returned only after three days or on collection by a parent, whichever is sooner.   Please note on a third occasion of a mobile device being confiscated, there will be no option for a parent or guardian to collect the device before the expiry of the three day period. On a fourth or additional occasion of confiscation, the school reserves the right to charge a £50 returnable deposit for the use of a smartphone on-site due to the additional investment of staff time associated with such devices both inside and outside of the school.

Please be advised that the school reserves the right to impose an additional sanction, in line with our published Achievement and Behaviour Policy, where a student refuses to hand over a device when asked to or in cases where the student’s attitude or behaviour towards a member of staff attempting to implement school policy is deemed unacceptable.   This includes passing the device to the police where it is believed there could be evidence of criminal activity.

Should a student wish to make contact with a parent during the school day, they should approach the Pastoral Assistant for their year group, who can be located in the Heads of Learning Office.  Alternatively, they should report to the Attendance Office or the main School Reception.  Likewise a parent who wishes to contact their child during the school day, should do so through the main school number 0208 670 7575 and ask to speak to Reception.  

Our policy requires that at the beginning of the academic year 2026-27,  all students in Years 9-11 migrate to bringing only a traditional/brick phone to school and no longer bring their smartphone to school.  All parents who wish for their children to move over to a traditional/brick phone immediately are encouraged to do so. Students are also permitted to bring internet enabled tracker devices to school, e.g. Apple/Amazon tags, should their parents wish to track their child’s journey to and from school in real time. 

Key Policy Requirements for Sixth Form Students

Students in the Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13) are permitted to bring their smart phones to school and to use them for study purposes but in Sixth Form areas only.  At all other times, these devices must be out of sight, e.g. when moving through the main building.  As with students in Years 9-11, should these devices be used in contravention of the school rules, they will be confiscated or placed in a pouch controlled by the school.