Mobile Phone Statement

Mobile phone (including Smartphone) Statement: September 2026.

‘See it, hear it, take it.’

The policy for all types of mobile phones prior to September 2026 was that Years 7-11 could bring them to school but they must NOT be used when on the school site. We advised boys to lock them in their lockers. If seen they were confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Confiscation of mobile phones is now stricter and detailed below.

From September 2026, in Years 7 and 8, Smartphones are now entirely banned from the school site altogether and we expect parents to support the school with this. 

In short, no mobile phones of any kind are to be seen or heard on the school site during the school day and confiscation details are below.

From September 2026:

Year 7 and Year 8: Smartphones are NOT permitted on the school site. A non internet enabled phone is permitted but must not be seen or heard on the school site. We advise they are locked in their lockers. If any phones are seen they will be confiscated (see below).

A non internet enabled phone is a basic phone: a phone without internet connectivity or apps, designed solely to use for calls and text messages.

Examples of these can be found  here https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/alternatives

Years 9,10,11: Smartphones are permitted on the school site but they must not be seen or heard. We advise they are locked in their lockers. If any phones are seen they will be confiscated (see below). We encourage parents to purchase a low cost non internet enabled phone to take to and from school.

Sixth Form: The Sixth Form is now also ‘phone free’. Of course, where students have to make an emergency or other important phone call, we have a private office available. Like the rest of the school, phones are not allowed to be used.

Confiscation: For the first offence of the term, any mobile phone will be confiscated for 2 days and returned to the student at the end of the 3rd school day. For the second offence that term, the  phone will be confiscated for 5 days and returned to the student at the end of the 6th school day. If these days fall over a weekend the student is permitted to collect their phone on Friday at the end of the school day and must hand it into the Pastoral Office first thing on the Monday morning, or Tuesday if it is a Bank Holiday.  Failure to do this will lead to an additional confiscation day being added to the sanction. For subsequent offences the confiscation period will be extended and the phone will only be returned to a parent. Refusal to hand over a mobile phone will result in escalation of sanction.

Travel and Bus Arrangements:  We suggest that bus passes or QR codes are printed off to show to bus drivers or that students use a prepaid debit card.

Exceptions: We are aware of a small number of students who require a smartphone to track their medical condition. We ask that parents notify us by email to office@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk for the attention of Mr Hathaway,  to confirm the medical condition. Students who use their phone for a medical purpose are required to use it discreetly. These students cannot use their phones for any purpose other than medical.

Smartwatches: These are not permitted in school for any year group at any time.

Meta Smartglasses: These are not permitted in school for any year group at any time.

This position will be regularly reviewed and subject to change but  it must be made clear that we will continue to be led and guided by the formal guidance issued by the Government and the Department for Education as this develops. 

We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that our students are safe, happy, and able to thrive. Above all, this remains our number one priority for every child at John Hampden Grammar School.

 

Legal references: 

Education Act 1996; Education & Inspections Act 2006; DfE MobilePhones in Schools (2024); DfE Searching, Screening & Confiscation (2022); Keeping Children Safe in Education (2026); Online Safety Act 2023; UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018