Mobile Phone Policy

Purpose

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Glen Waverley South Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones during school hours.

This policy applies to:

All students at Glen Waverley South Primary School and,
Students’ personal mobile phones brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.

Definitions

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network

Policy

Glen Waverley South Primary School understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone during school hours.

This policy applies to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At Glen Waverley South Primary School:

Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours
Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information)
When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Personal mobile phone use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Glen Waverley South Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.

Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Secure storage

Mobile phones owned by students at Glen Waverley South Primary School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Please note that Glen Waverley South Primary School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items. Refer to the Department of Education’s Personal Goods policy.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Glen Waverley South Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Glen Waverley South Primary School students are required hand their mobile phone into the school administration office to be placed in a lockable cupboard.

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Glen Waverley South Primary School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing Student Engagement and Inclusion Policy.

At Glen Waverley South Primary School inappropriate use of mobile phones is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:

in any way that disrupts the learning of others
to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls
to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying
to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission
to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms
during exams and assessments

Exceptions

Exceptions to the policy:

may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met, specifically,
- Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and
can be granted by the principal, or by the teacher for that class, in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy.

The categories of exceptions allowed are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

Specific exception	Documentation
For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of a disability or learning difficulty	Student Diabetes Management Plans and Health Support Plans

2. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

Specific exception	Documentation
Students with a health condition	Student Diabetes Management Plans and Health Support Plans

Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.

Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities

Glen Waverley South Primary School will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps including personal mobile phones.

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to

Out-of-School-Hours Care (OSHC)
Out-of-school-hours events
Travelling to and from school
Wearable devices-(notifications must be turned off)
iPads and all other personal devices

Related policies and resources

Student Engagement & Inclusion Policy
Mobile Phones – Department Policy

Ban, Search and Seize Harmful Items
Personal Goods – Department policy

Review period

This policy was last updated on 27/01/2020 and is scheduled for review on 01/2023.