Mobile Phones in Our Schools

Creating calm, safe and focused learning environments

At South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, we want every student to learn in an environment that is calm, focused and free from unnecessary distractions.

Mobile phones can be helpful for students travelling to and from school, and we understand the reassurance this gives families. During the school day, however, our priority is making sure students are fully focused on learning, wellbeing, friendships and personal development.

From September 2026, all Trust schools will be mobile phone free during the school day. This means students must not access, use, see or hear a mobile phone or smart device while they are in school.

From September 2026, all Trust schools will operate a mobile phone free school day in line with Department for Education statutory guidance and our Trust policy. Students may still bring a phone for travel to and from school, but phones must not be used, seen or heard during the school day.

Why are we making this change?

This change follows the latest Department for Education statutory guidance and supports our Trust commitment to calm, safe and purposeful schools.

Helping students concentrate and take part fully in lessons.
Reducing distractions and unnecessary interruptions.
Encouraging students to speak to each other face to face at break and lunchtime.
Reducing opportunities for online conflict, social media issues and inappropriate recording.
Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.
Making expectations clear, fair and consistent across our schools.

Parent friendly summary

Students can bring a phone to school if they need it for the journey, but once they arrive it must be stored safely and must not be used, seen or heard until the end of the school day.

What does the policy mean for students?

Students may bring a mobile phone to school for use before and after the school day. Once they arrive at school, the phone must be switched off or placed in flight mode and stored securely using the school system.

The policy applies throughout the whole school day, including:

Tutor time
Lessons
Movement between lessons
Breaktime
Lunchtime
Assemblies and school activities
Any time students are on the school site during the school day

The policy also applies to smart devices where they have communication, messaging, internet, notification, camera, video or recording functions.

How phones will be stored?

Each school will use a secure storage system. Students will place their phone in their allocated storage location at the start of the school day and collect it at the end of the school day.

This approach balances the need for families to feel reassured about travel to and from school with the need for a focused, phone free learning environment during the school day.

What happens if a student breaks the policy?

We want students to get this right and we will explain the expectations clearly. The policy will be applied fairly and consistently across our schools.

If a phone or smart device is seen, heard or used

The device will be confiscated by a member of staff and taken to a secure location. The incident will be logged and the school may contact parents or carers.

Situation	What will happen
First incident	The device will be confiscated and stored securely. It may be returned to the student at the end of the school day. The incident will be logged.
Repeated incident	The device will be confiscated and stored securely. It will not be returned to the student. A parent or carer will be required to collect it in person.
48 hour collection period	Where the 48 hour rule is applied, the device will be held by the school for a minimum of 48 hours before it can be collected by a parent or carer.
Serious breach	More significant sanctions may apply if a student refuses to hand over a device, brings a second device, uses a device to record or photograph others, or tries to bypass the storage system.

Why does the Trust use a 48 hour collection period?

The purpose of the 48 hour collection period is to make expectations clear, involve parents and carers, encourage responsible choices and reduce repeat incidents. It also reinforces that mobile phones must not disrupt learning, wellbeing or safety during the school day.

Will there be any exceptions?

Yes. We recognise that a small number of students may need access to a device for medical, safeguarding or specific educational reasons.

Any exception must be agreed in advance with the school with medical evidence provided from home. This allows staff to support individual needs while keeping the overall school environment mobile phone free.

Frequently asked questions

How can I contact my child during the school day?

Please contact the school reception team. Staff will make sure urgent messages are passed on appropriately.

What if my child needs to contact home?

Students should speak to a member of staff. The school will support them to contact home if this is needed.

Can students use phones at break or lunchtime?

No. The policy applies throughout the school day, including breaktime and lunchtime.

Can my child still bring a phone for travelling?

Yes. Students may bring a phone for travel to and from school, but it must be stored securely during the school day.

Does this apply to smartwatches?

Yes, where the watch or device can communicate, send messages, access the internet, send notifications, take photographs, record audio or record video.

What happens if my child forgets to hand in their phone?

If the phone is seen, heard or used during the school day, it will be treated as a breach of the policy.

What if my child uses their phone for a medical reason?

Please contact the school so that an individual arrangement can be agreed and recorded.

Bring items in at your own risk:

Responsibility for Mobile Phones and Personal Devices

Students are not required to bring a mobile phone, smartwatch or other personal electronic device to school.

The decision to allow a student to bring a mobile phone or personal device onto the school site rests entirely with parents and carers.

Whilst the school will take reasonable steps to support the safe storage of devices in accordance with the school’s procedures, all mobile phones and personal electronic devices are brought onto the school site at the owner’s risk.

The Trust, its schools and members of staff cannot accept responsibility for the loss, theft, damage or malfunction of any mobile phone, smartwatch, headphones or other personal electronic device brought into school.

Parents and carers should carefully consider whether a high value device is necessary for their child to bring to school.

Students are expected to take appropriate care of their belongings and ensure devices are stored in accordance with school procedures at all times.

Where a device is confiscated as part of the school’s behaviour procedures, it will be stored securely and returned in line with the school’s Mobile Phone Policy. However, this does not create any liability on the part of the Trust for the value, condition or functionality of the device.

Working together

Thank you for supporting this policy. We know change can take time, but clear routines and consistent expectations help students settle quickly and make the school day calmer for everyone.

By working together, we can help students focus on learning, build positive friendships and enjoy a safer, healthier and more purposeful school experience.

Aspire. Challenge. Achieve.