Mobile Phones, AirPods and Electronic Devices
Students are discouraged from bringing mobile phones to the Academy. Evidence-based research suggests that the majority of bullying and cyber bullying incidents are due to the use of social media via mobile phones and electronic gadgets. Mobile phones and electronic gadgets are a serious distraction to students’ learning and progress. As such, mobile phones should never be seen or heard in the academy buildings.
- If parents want their child to bring a phone to school for safety reasons, they must be switched off and kept in their school bag or blazer pocket.
- If a member of staff sees a mobile phone, or hears a notification in any area of the academy building, including corridors, dining spaces, stairwells, or outdoor spaces, the student will be required to place their phone into a lockable pouch for the remainder of the school day.
- This will mean that students will still have their devices on their person, either in their bags or inside their blazers but they will not be able to use them. Students will then be able to learn without distraction. This is in line with the latest Department for Education guidelines which make clear schools must be phone free.
- On the way out of school at the end of the school day, if a pupil has had to put their phone into a pouch, they will be able to unlock it with their year team after their 30-minute detention. They will then hand the pouch back to their year team.
- AirPods or any other electronic devices should not be seen or heard in the academy buildings and should be kept in students’ school bag.
- If a member of staff sees any AirPods or other electronic devices in any area of the Academy buildings, the same procedure as above will be followed.
- If your child attends an extra-curricular activity after school, they will unlock their phone after they have completed their 30-minute detention and before they attend their extra-curricular activity.
Filming/Photographs of Students
- If a student or staff member is found to have filmed or photographed a member of the MEA community without proper authorisation, it will be treated as a serious incident.
We cannot accept any responsibility for lost or damaged possessions.