📵Mobile Phones & SMART Devices – Updated Expectations📵

Feb 3rd

📚 Learning First: Why Phones Should Stay at Home at St Peter’s📵

The Government now expects all schools to be phone‑free environments for the entire school day. This means that mobile phones and SMART devices should not be used by children at any time during lessons, transitions, breaktimes or lunch.
This guidance aims to ensure that schools remain calm, safe places where children can focus on learning and build positive relationships without the distractions, pressures or risks that phones can bring. Ofsted will also look at how consistently schools apply these expectations.

Our approach at St Peter’s

At St Peter’s CE Primary School, our position is clear and strongly aligned with this new guidance: our very strong preference is that no children bring mobile phones into school at all, as they are simply not needed for learning, communication or safety during the school day. Smart devices such as smart watches are not permitted at all.  Full details can be found in our Behaviour Policy.
This approach helps every child to Love, Learn and Shine by promoting:
  • Love – encouraging positive friendships and healthy social interactions
  • Learn – reducing distractions and supporting calm, focused classrooms
  • Shine – building independence, confidence and safe habits

A word from Mr Griffiths, Headteacher

‘Children do not need mobile phones in school, and our very strong preference is that they are not brought onto the site at all. In the very rare cases where parents believe a child genuinely needs a phone for essential safety reasons such as walking home alone parents should carefully consider other strategies first. Carrying a mobile does not guarantee a child’s safety, and it can introduce other issues such as loss, damage or the possible theft of expensive devices. If you would like help, guidance or advice about keeping your child safe before or after school, please come and chat with a member of the team we’re always here to support you.’

When a phone may be approved

We understand that, in a few rare exceptional circumstances, an older child may need a mobile phone solely for safety before or after school. Where this is the case:
  • Parents must complete the school’s Permission to Bring a Phone form
  • Any approved phone must be switched off on arrival
  • It must be handed in at the school office each morning
  • Staff will store it securely until home time
Children will not use phones during the school day. If a child needs to contact home, staff will always support them using the school phone. By working together, we can ensure that St Peter’s remains calm, joyful and purposeful—a place where every child can Love, Learn and Shine every day.

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