New Government guidance on mobile phones is unlikely to change things at Priory School, which has ensured mobiles are locked away for the past 15 years. It has been announced this week that mobile phones are set to be prohibited in schools across England as part of the Government’s plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms. New mobile phones in schools guidance backs headteachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break times. At Priory School in Whippingham, pupils have been forced to lock away their phones for the duration of the school day since 2009. There is not a total ban on mobiles though as many pupils use public transport to get to and from school each day. Principal David Lloyd says that as a small school, it is easier to lock away pupils’ phones than perhaps at a larger school – but emphasises that the benefits are significant. Responding to the news of new Government guidance this week, Mr Lloyd has said:
“Pupils are not walking around the school site with heads down and fingers tapping away oblivious to their surroundings, personal safety and community. We encourage pupils to develop their communication and interpersonal skills, to talk, listen, socialise, attend clubs and learn. We discourage writing shortcuts devoid of correct spelling and punctuation, which all too sadly appear to have become standard format in texting and messaging. “Mobile phones and social media have become a medium for unkindness and bullying, and as a Head of many years I know full well how much time, energy and emotion this can take to unravel. This unkindness can start in school and be carried on around the clock. I have seen far too many upsetting and deeply disturbing screenshots of pupil behaviour on phones, computers and games consoles, and we strongly encourage pupils to type as if they were speaking to a friend, peer or member of staff face to face”.
Mr Lloyd adds:
“Mobile Phones are like trainers, with pupils chasing the next (expensive) model, and this can have ugly consequences, including aggression and theft, not to mention pressure on parents to pay. Some schools allow pupils to carry their phones but ask that they remain switched off. Pupils naturally circumvent this by congregating in toilets and other unsupervised recesses around the site to power up and get a social media fix. “School is a place to meet friends and enjoy their company, share experiences, feel safe and prepare for the adult world. Mobile phones are a major barrier to developing soft and hard skills and can rob children of their precious youth and school days. “Mobile phones have their place and use in society but this is not in schools, and certainly not at Priory School where not having a phone between 8.30am and 4pm has been the accepted working norm for 15 years”.
that policy might work well at a private school, where non compliance can mean the kid gets expelled, however, try that at some state run school that cannot expel a kid for using a phone, with all the feral brats from the benefit spongers community kicking off and see just how far they get.
Well Done.
They should have been banned in schools,19 years ago – incredibly detrimental to a child’s education and to the poor teacher trying to educate them. Hopefully, pupils will feel safer, having no contact with social media for a small section of their day.
However, as said in the article, it will be a much harder thing to ban in the larger schools!
Most children will take 2 phones to school
Easy peasy.
So all the little snobs lead the way
Well good for them .
learn from them rather than engage in jealous insults
bit of a snobby statement..well good for yeeeew.
Why do you think children who go to a private school are snobs. Jealous maybe?
This man is a hero.
We should have him cloned.