5 Tips for Tackling the Mobile Monsters!

As a headteacher, one way or another, my day would often involve an issue relating to mobile phones. Whether it was outside of school, confiscations in school or talking about how it could be utilised to help with teaching and learning.

This February, the DfE has issued new guidance which ‘backs headteachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break times’.  This was the approach at the school were I was head and also in my previous school.

Now, I would never say that this issue was eradicated. In fact, the challenges remained and in some cases a stricter approach sometimes caused additional complications. However, overall there were certainly more students talking to each other and interacting with one another rather than looking at a screen during their free time. In light of the new guidance, here are Opogo’s 5 top tips taken from school leaders relating to this topic.

1. Define Clear Guidelines: Begin by clearly outlining the purpose of the mobile phones policy and its expected outcomes. Define when and where mobile phone usage is permitted or prohibited, including classrooms, corridors and around the school site. Clearly communicate consequences for breaking these rules to students, parents, and staff.
2. Educate Stakeholders: Educating students, parents, and teachers about the rationale behind the mobile phones policy is crucial for garnering support and compliance. Host informational sessions or workshops to discuss the impact of excessive phone use on learning, social interactions, and overall well-being.
3. Involve the School Community in Policy Development: Ask parents for their thoughts, gather input from the student council and talk to staff as well. If you send a questionnaire out to all parents, students and staff, you can come back to this when justifying the stance the school is taking when anyone challenges it… and they will!
4. Regularly Review and Adapt: Recognise that technology and students evolve rapidly, requiring mobile phones policies to be flexible and adaptable. Regularly review the effectiveness of the policy, gather feedback from stakeholders, and make adjustments as needed to address emerging challenges or opportunities.
5. Lead by Example: Finally, lead by example by adhering to the mobile phones policy yourself as an educator or school leader. Demonstrate responsible device use, set clear expectations for students and staff, and be willing to enforce the policy consistently and impartially.

Take the course ‘Positive Behaviour Management’ on the Learn platform to develop your wider approaches in this area: https://community.opogo.com/courses/positive-behaviour-management/.