Parent Letter - 12th March 2025

Dear parents and carers,

Mobile Phones at Havelock Academy

We have seen an increase in sanctions being issued for use of mobile phones on the school site this term so I wanted to write to all parents and carers to ask for your support in reiterating our policy on this issue.

Havelock Academy is a mobile phone free site for students.  This means that students cannot use mobile phones anywhere on the school site at any time.  If a student wishes to bring their mobile phone to school, for use on the way to and from school, then it must be switched off completely (not just on silent) and put away.  Students should not get out their mobile phones at the end of the day until they have left the academy site.

Where a student is seen with a mobile phone on school site, they can expect to be issued with a detention for this, as well as having the phone confiscated for the remainder of the day.  Confiscated phones are locked up and can be collected at the end of the day from the Safeguarding Office.

There are multiple reasons for us not allowing mobile phones on site for students, many of them based on research around child wellbeing, as well as the fact that mobile phones can cause safeguarding issues.  More information can be found on the Children’s Society website: Should children have mobile phones? | The Children's Society

Whilst some schools have banned students from having a phone altogether, we listened to student and parent voice on this issue and made the decision to allow students to have phones with them if they are switched off and away.  Parents and carers in particular were keen for this to be the case, to allow students to have access to their phones for their journey to and from school.  In order to continue with our current policy, we need the support of parents/carers in ensuring all students know that phones cannot be used on school site.  If a student needs to speak with a parent/carer, they should speak to their tutor or head of year, who will be able to make appropriate arrangements.  If you as parents/carers have a message for your child during the school day, you can telephone the main reception and staff will be happy to pass the message on. 

Thank you for your support and understanding with this.

Kind regards,

Emma Marshall
Principal