Smartphone Free
A Smartphone Free School
St James's Policy Summary - Effective: January 2025
Further to our recent announcement of the launch of a Smartphone ban at St James, we are pleased to confirm that our policy will be officially launched in the spring term.
At St James’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to providing a safe, focused and educational environment for all of our pupils. In line with our mission to protect children from the potential harms of digital technology, this policy outlines the expectations regarding the use of smart phones, mobile phones and other smart devices within the school.
This policy is informed by the UK statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 and aims to safeguard students from distractions, inappropriate content and social pressures while promoting their well-being. Our policy is informed by multiple Parent Forums; discussions with individual parents, discussion with staff and discussions with other local schools.
The use of smartphones will be strictly prohibited within the school grounds. This includes any devices that are capable of accessing the internet, running applications, or communicating through digital networks. The school recognises the potential risks associated with unsupervised use of such devices, including cyberbullying, access to inappropriate content and exposure to social media pressures.
The school believes that access to smart devices can present significant risks to children's mental health, safety and educational development. These risks can be mitigated when parents exercise adequate supervision. We urge all parents to educate their children on the potential dangers of mobile technology and to encourage safe, responsible use. At school, e-safety lessons are taught half-termly and the school is committed to educating the children on how best to engage with new technologies in a safe way.
The Smartphone policy will take effect in the spring term and is designed to protect and promote the well-being of all children at St James’s Catholic Primary School. By restricting the use of smartphones and other smart devices during the school day, we aim to create a safer, more focused environment where pupils can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We appreciate the cooperation and support of all parents, guardians and staff in ensuring the success of this policy.
Letter to parents regarding Smartphones:
1st October 2024
1st October 2024
Dear Families,
Firstly, I would like to thank the parents who attended the Parent Forum last night. It was a lively and constructive discussion around the topic. Parent Forum really strengthens the partnership between home and school. In addition to those in attendance, several parents sent me brief notes with their views which also helped shape the discussion. The entire discussion was underpinned by the belief that ‘mutual respect is not contingent on mutual agreement’.
In order to decide what is right for our community, we have completed the following activities:
- Parent poll
- Parent Forum x2
- Lessons with Year 5 children
- Read multiple research papers
- Engaged with the national and local discussions
It is evident that there is a strongly held view that a ban of Smartphones at St James’s will have a positive impact on our children.
Next steps:
- The senior leadership team will finalise our policy and present it to the governing board for ratification.
- We will host information sessions, workshops and lessons for children and parents so our community is fully informed about the initiative. (Please may I request that you wait for these sessions before seeking further clarity.)
- We plan to implement our policy from January 2025.
With the above proposed school policy noted, and as you make purchasing plans for December, I strongly urge parents to consider refraining from purchasing smartphones for their children. We will support parents by rolling out our ‘no smartphone’ messaging internally. I look forward to our continued work in partnership with you, withstanding the demands of peer pressure and advocating for the preservation of ‘childhood’.
Kind regards,
Mr. C. Beatty
Headteacher