A STEPDAD has criticised a decision by Basingstoke's biggest secondary school to make parents come in and collect confiscated mobile phones – claiming it puts the safety of pupils at risk.
Spencer Cleary, of The Crofts, Hatch Warren, believes the changes put in place by Brighton Hill Community College, in Brighton Way, to ban youngsters from using mobile phones during the school day are in fact punishing parents.
The 46-year-old, who is stepfather to 14-year-old Marek Sawczuk, told The Gazette: “It seems the school is punishing the parents for the acts of the children without any thought of the consequences that could occur.
“If a child feels unsafe on their way home from school due to bullying, stalking or any other potential threat, the child is unable to call for help if they do not have the phone.
“While I understand the students must be punished for breaking a school rule, it seems the college has not thought this through properly and considered the dangers associated with not returning the phone to the student after school has finished.”
He added: “As it is, the new policy does not affect the students but only affects the parents, as it is the parents who will need to take time off work to recover the phone before the school closes for the day.”
He concluded: “I believe it is of paramount importance that all confiscated phones are returned to students after school hours to ensure their safety and avoid any situations that may arise whereby having a phone could have prevented a tragedy.”
Wendy Small, deputy headteacher at the college, responded: “Our behaviour policy has been under review in the autumn term and after doing this, we are now expecting parents to come in and get the phone – basically so we can work with them and have a conversation about it. Since we introduced this rule, there has been a marked reduction in the incorrect use of phones by pupils.
“All students know from the list of college rules in their planners that they are not permitted to use mobile phones to make or receive calls or text messages.
“The rule also makes it clear that use of a mobile phone will result in confiscation. Students are reminded in the list of rules that they bring phones in at their own risk.
“The new policy does not say that students are banned from carrying a mobile phone in their school bag or pocket and they can, of course, carry them as a safety precaution when walking to and from school, and for hearing from parents, but they are not permitted to use them during the college day.”
The deputy head added: “The college is keen to work with parents to implement the college rules and the new behaviour policy as we are committed, through this partnership, to ensuring that the students take responsibility for their behaviour and are not distracted from their learning.”
Speaking of the perceived safety threat, she added: “We considered this. However, it’s the students’ responsibility not to have their phones out. If they need it to get home then that is something they need to consider before taking it out.”
