Mobile Phones

Dear Parent/Carer

Sadly I find it necessary to write this letter to you all with regard to students misusing and not being responsible for the safety of these expensive items of equipment and thereby taking up an inordinate amount of staff time.

Increasingly we are having to challenge students in class and on corridors due to the students lack of compliance to the school rules i.e. phones ringing in class, playing music around the corridors. In addition, as is the national trend, significant numbers of students are using these items to take images of students and staff without their permission. They are also receiving inappropriate messages and images from sources external to the school, some of these images are quite disturbing, in addition electronic bullying is also increasing across all schools.

My decision has been taken in line with a number of other schools in Wirral in order to safeguard our students against cyber-bullying and the receipt - sometimes without their permission, of inappropriate messages and images. I would strongly advise all parents to periodically check the content of your son's or daughter's mobile phone.

I fully understand some parents concern as to their son's or daughter's safety travelling to and from school if they are out of contact. However crime statistics show that people are more likely to be the victim of street crime if they have a mobile phone. We have installed additions to our parental contact system in school where we can text, telephone or email you if we need to urgently contact you and we are tendering for an increased number of telephone lines into school for you to have easier access to the school. Also students can come to our office to use the telephone if they need to contact their parents.

I hope that you understand that I have taken a considered view of the pros and cons of students having mobile phones in school and the cons certainly outweigh the pros. Therefore from Monday, 18 February 2008, any student in possession of a mobile phone will have it confiscated and only returned to their parents/carers.

I apologise for having to make this decision but it will safeguard our students and ensure that the school operates more smoothly.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss this matter.

Yours sincerely

Mr B Jordan

Headteacher