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Mobile phone policy: model and examples
This article includes our model mobile phones policy, which your school can adapt to suit its needs. You can also use our checklist to help you write your own policy, or review an existing one. See examples of policies from other schools on the use of mobile phones.
Contents
Download our model policy
Use our model policy to help you set clear expectations for everyone in your school community.
Approved by Forbes Solicitors, the policy covers pupils, staff, parents, visitors and volunteers.
It also includes:
- A model code of conduct/acceptable use agreement for pupils
- Template permission forms for bringing mobile phones to school
- A tear-and-share summary of your policy you can give to visitors when they sign in
For more model policies, visit our policy bank.
If your school is writing its own policy, or reviewing an existing one, and you just want to know what the policy should cover, use our checklist to help you:
Primary schools
Skelton Primary School, in North Yorkshire, doesn't allow pupils to use phones at school. Parents must get permission to send their child to school with a phone (for instance, if they walk to school alone).
Pupils who are allowed to bring their phones to school must hand them in at the school office.
Download the school's policy here.
St. John's CofE Primary School in Rochdale allows pupils to bring phones to school. However, they must hand them in to the class teacher every morning for safe keeping.
View the school's policy here.
Valley Primary School in Bromley allows pupils in years 5 & 6 to bring a mobile phone to school.
They must hand it in at the school office at the beginning of the school day, and collect it when school finishes.
They're not allowed to use the phones while on the school site (even before or after school).
Download the school's policy here.
Secondary schools
The Archer Academy in the London Borough of Barnet doesn't allow smartphones in school. Pupils also aren't allowed to bring phones with cameras.
Pupils are allowed to bring basic phones with them to school, but aren't allowed to use them.
View the school's policy statement here.
North Walsham High School in Norfolk allows pupils to bring phones to school. However, the phones must be kept in lockers during the school day.
If the school sees a pupil with their phone during school hours, the phone is confiscated. Confiscated phones must be collected by parents.
Download the school's policy from this page.
The Blue Coat School in Oldham allows pupils in years 11-13 to use their phones during specific times. Use is confined to certain areas of the school.
For example, year 11 pupils can use their phones in the IT lounge between 8:00 and 8:35am.
If a pupil uses their phone outside of the permitted times or places, the school confiscates the phone for 5 days.
View the school's policy here.
Policies that cover use of mobile phones by staff
Many schools (like the ones above) include information about staff use of mobile phones in whole-school mobile phones policies.
Here are two examples of schools that have a separate policy for staff:
Adderley Primary School allows staff to bring personal mobile phones into school.
The school's policy for staff covers:
- Storing phones during the school day
- When calls can be taken
- The procedure for raising concerns about inappropriate content on staff phones
View the school's policy here.
Gladstone Primary Academy allows personal mobiles. Personal phones:
- Can't be used where children are present
- Must be password-protected, security marked and insured
- Can't be used to take photos or recordings without the prior consent of the designated safeguarding lead
Download the school's policy from this page.
Policies that cover parents, visitors and volunteers
Chesterton CofE Primary School's mobile phones policy says:
- Volunteers, visitors, governors and contractors must follow the policy set out for school staff
- Parents should use their phones in a courteous and appropriate manner
The school also explains that parents can use mobile phones to take photos or videos of school events, but that they shouldn't post images on social media that include children other than their own.
See the school's policy here.
St James CofE Primary School says parents, visitors and volunteers:
- Should only use their phones in the school office or the staff room
- Shouldn't use their personal phones to take photos of pupils, unless its a public event and the photo is of their own child
Download the school's policy from this page.
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