We are interested in hearing your views about our new rules for pupils and mobiles phones at Fielding. We are thinking of changing our approach because some parents of older pupils are worried about peer pressure, stress and pupils using phones just before and after the end of the school day.

 

Currently, if parents wish, pupils may bring a mobile device to school. Some parents like this approach, especially if children in years 5 and 6 walk to and from school alone. Any devices are collected by teachers at morning registration for safe keeping and returned to children just before the end of the main school day.  Some parents have shared concerns about huddles of children gathering around a phone before school and pupils using their device at after school clubs. We need to sharpen and streamline our approach.

 

Our new approach aims to:

• set expectations so that parents are supported to help manage children's peer pressure about having a device
• give parents some choice and flexibility for their own individual preferences and family circumstances
• align with the secondary sector, especially Elthorne Park High School - the destination of the majority of our pupils after year 6.

   

We are thinking of making the following changes:

1. We recommend that primary school age pupils do not have a smart phone.
2. Next best, the school prefers mobile phones to be left at home on school days.
3. If parents feel that their child needs a mobile phone for communication before and/or after school, pupils may bring a simple 'brick' style mobile phone to school with phone and text messaging functions only.
4. Any mobile device in school must be:
   1. stored in the child's own bag or locker.
   2. never seen or heard while on the school site. The use of mobile devices by pupils while on the school site is banned.
5. Any mobile device seen or heard on the school site will be:
   1. confiscated and returned to a parent at our convenience, usually at 3.45pm on the following school day
   2. pupils who repeatedly breach this rule will have their device confiscated for a longer. On the second occurrence, the device will be confiscated for 5 school days. On the third (or more) occasion, the device will be confiscated for the rest of the school term.
6. There is no need for communication by mobile phone between parents and pupils during the school day. The school office and class teachers will manage any urgent messages between a child and their parents. 
7. The school does not take any responsibility for theft, damage or loss of devices brought on to the school site. 

 

Depending on views, we could implement these changes quickly.

 

We are interested in hearing your views, ideally by Friday 20th September:

• Email: admin@fielding.ealing.sch.uk, subject 'Mobile phones'