b'Key School PoliciesStudent Use of Mobile PhonesBringing personal devices to schooland Personal Devices PolicyStudents are permitted to bring personal devices to (summary) school:as a measure to ensure their safety while The Student Use of Mobile Phones and Personal Devices Policy is implemented in line with thetravelling to and from schoolDepartment for Educations Student use of mobileso parents and part-time employers canphones and personal devices policy, which appliescontact them outside of school hoursto all government schools.so they can be contacted about a person Following are some key points from Seaton Highunder their care, where applicableSchools policy. A copy of the full policy and ato be used during school hours in line with anseries of Frequently Asked Questions is availableexemption under this policy, if approved by on the Seaton High School website. the school.Rationale While students are at school, or attending school activities, they must comply with any reasonable With the widespread and increasing ownership ofdirections given by school staff in line with this mobile phones and other devices among students,policy regarding their personal devices.it is critical that schools, in partnership with families, provide clear guidance for students to becomeThe Department for Educations policy requires informed, safe, respectful, and responsible digitalall students at all department schools to keep citizens. personal devices off and away between the start It is the Department for Educations position thatand end of each school day, and while they are access to personal devices during school hoursattending school activities off-site, such as camps must be managed so that students can be fullyand excursions.present in their learning and in their interactionsStudents will not be able to access their personal with their teachers and peers. devices at any time during school hours, unless The aim of this policy is to help promote: they have received an approved exemption from the school to use the device for a specific, agreedsafe environments with reduced negativereason. This means both physical access and impacts of inappropriate use of devices atremote access (e.g. connecting with the personal school, such as cyberbullying, exposure todevice via hotspot or using paired headphones).harmful content, and critical incidents that involve mobile phones Storage of personal devices at schoolclassroom environments where teachers Students will turn their devices off or place them can teach, and students can learn, free fromin flight mode before putting them away. This distractions caused by personal use of devices includes taking off and storing any wearable use of breaks as quality time away fromtechnology that fits the definition of this policy,screens, encouraging physical activity and playsuch as smartwatches. and meaningful face-to-face connectionsIn line with the new government policy, Seaton with peers. High School has implemented the Yondr Program to comply with the strict ban.44 Seaton High School Information Handbook 2026'