Mobile Phones

Mobile Phones Policy

Introductory Statement

St Colmcille’s BNS aims to provide a caring, learning environment which nurtures the full educational potential of each child and promotes the well-being of all members of our school community. This policy has been formulated in consultation with staff, pupils, parents and the Board of Management. Copies of the policy will be disseminated to staff, the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association. A copy of the policy will be made available on the school website, www.colmcilles.net

Rationale

This policy was formulated with a view to creating a supportive and caring environment in our school and ensuring the safety of staff and pupils.

Aim

To lessen intrusions and distractions to our pupils’ learning

Procedures

If a pupil brings a mobile phone to school, the phone must be kept in his school bag, switched off during the school day and may not be used, for any purpose, on school premises or during off-site school activities (such as school swimming or sports activities). The only exception to this is in an emergency or with the approval of a teacher.

Pupils who ignore this policy and use a mobile on school premises without permission will be required to hand over their phone to a member of staff and it will be kept in the Principal’s Office until 2.30 p.m.

If a teacher has any suspicion that a mobile phone has unsuitable material stored on it, pupils will be required to hand over the phone to a teacher and parents will be asked to collect it from the school. Where there is a suspicion that the material on the mobile may provide evidence relating to a criminal offence the phone will be handed over to the gardai for further investigation. Parents will be informed in such circumstances.

The school will incorporate this policy in the school’s discipline policy and will treat breaches as they would treat any other breach of school discipline.

The school accepts no responsibility for replacing lost, stolen or damaged mobile phones. The safety and security of mobile phones is wholly a matter for pupils/parents.

The school accepts no responsibility for pupils who lose or have their mobile phones stolen while travelling to and from school.

Pupils should mark their mobile phone clearly with their name.

Mobile phones which are found in the school and whose owner cannot be located should be handed to a member of staff.

It is strongly advised that pupils use passwords/pin numbers to ensure that unauthorised phone calls cannot be made on their phones (e.g. by other pupils, or if stolen). Pupils must keep their password/pin numbers confidential. Mobile phone and/or passwords should not be shared.

Pupils using mobile phones to bully other pupils or send offensive messages/calls will face disciplinary actions as per the School Code of Behaviour.

It should be noted that it is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend another person. As such, if action as sanctioned by the School in this regard is deemed ineffective, as with all such incidents, the school may consider it appropriate to involve the gardaí.

Staff

Staff have access to school landline if an urgent call on school-related business needs to be made
Staff personal calls / texting are confined normally to break-times

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