Mobile phone policy
Burwood Girls High School supports the restrictions of mobile phones in accordance with the NSW Department of Education (DoE): Students’ use of Mobile Phones in Schools policy.
It is important that students develop good mobile phone etiquette and form healthy habits with technology. Our mobile phone policy aims to minimise disruption to teaching, learning and confrontation between teachers and students over the use of mobiles.
Mobile phones in schools present several challenges. These include:
- Mobile phones interrupting lessons and disrupting the learning of others
- Mobile phones disrupting examinations and assessment tasks
- Theft, loss, or damage of mobile phones
- Invasion of privacy through misuse of pictures/videos/voice recording and social media
- Exposes staff or students to explicit or other inappropriate material
- Bullying and cyberbullying issues such as harassment, threats or abuse through text messages, photographs, videos, and online chat platforms
- Prolonged use proven to have negative impact on physical and mental health including brain development.
Restricting mobile phone use at school aims to:
- increase focus in classrooms
- remove distractions
- promote positive social interaction
- reduce the potential for online bullying
At school, the following rules apply:
- All mobile phones, earphones and headphones (devices) must be switched OFF and remain in students' bags at all times from "gate-to-gate" - this means from when they enter the school until they leave at the end of the day. This also includes during recess, lunch and in sick bay.
- Devices MUST NOT be brought into any assessment or examination situation.
- If a student's parent, carer or guardian needs to be contacted during school hours, this MUST be facilitated by school staff, NOT the student.
If you need to contact your child, please do so by emailing or calling the school. - At teacher discretion, devices may be used if they enhance or aid learning.
- The school takes no responsibility for damage, safety or loss of devices.
What happens if a student is caught improperly using their device?
If a student is seen using their phone, earphones or headphones without a valid device exemption, they will be sent to the Front Office to place their device in a locked pouch where it will stay until 3:15pm or the end of the school day.
Students will be issued with a printed receipt which they must keep in order to collect their device.
Parents / carers / guardians will be contacted after every offence.
After a third offence in a calendar year, the student's parents / carers / guardians will be contacted by the school to collect the device. It will not be released to the student under any circumstances.
After a fourth offence, further disciplinary action will be implemented in addition to the previous. This may include after-school detention, suspension, or a device management plan. This plan requires the student to hand in their phone at the start of every school day to be locked away until the end of the day.
If a student requires their phone for medical reasons, there is an exemption form available below which must be handed in to the school either in person or via email.
Have a question about our mobile phone policy?
Our friendly office team can help you get in touch.
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