Mobile Phones – Student Use Policy

Help for non-English speakers If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact the school on 9311 9325

PURPOSE

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Western English Language School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal mobile devices during school hours.

SCOPE

This policy applies to:

1. All students at Western English Language School and,
2. Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.

DEFINITIONS

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.

POLICY

Western English Language School understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At Western English Language School:

• Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours
• Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information)
• When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Personal mobile phone use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Western English Language School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.

Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Secure storage

Mobile phones owned by students at Western English Language School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk.  Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

Please note that Western English Language School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items.  Refer to the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Western English Language School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Western English Language School students are required to hand their phones in to classroom teachers each morning, for secure storage in the school Audio visual office .

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Western English Language School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and Student Code of Conduct.

At Western English Language School inappropriate use of mobile phones is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:

• in any way that disrupts the learning of others
• to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls
• to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying
• to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission
• to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms
• during exams and assessments

Exceptions

Exceptions to the policy:

• may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met, specifically,
  • Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and
  • Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite.
• can be granted by the principal, or by the teacher for that class, in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy.

The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

2. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

3. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.

Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities

Western English Language School will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones.

Exclusions

• Out-of-school-hours events
• Travelling to and from school
• Students undertaking workplace learning activities, e.g. work experience

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Available publicly on our school’s website
• Included in staff induction processes and staff training

FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

• Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy
• Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy

Our School policy:

• Student Wellbeing & Engagement
• Student Code of Conduct

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL

This policy has a mandatory review cycle of 3-4 years