Mobile Phone Policy

Purpose
To explain to our school community the Department’s and Beaufort Secondary College’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal mobile devices during school hours.

Scope
This policy applies to:

All students at Beaufort Secondary College and,
Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices 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. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.

Policy
Beaufort Secondary College understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At Beaufort Secondary College:

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 — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Beaufort Secondary College 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 Beaufort Secondary College 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 Beaufort Secondary College 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’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Beaufort Secondary College will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Beaufort Secondary College students are required to store their phones at The General Office.

Enforcement
Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Beaufort Secondary College may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing Student Wellbeing and Engagement and Code of Conduct policies.

At Beaufort Secondary College 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 Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite.
can be granted by the principal, or by the teacher for that class, in accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy .

The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

Specific exception

For specific learning activities (class-based exception)

For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of a disability or learning difficulty

2. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

Specific exception

Students with a health condition

Students who are Young Carers

3. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Specific exception

Travelling to and from excursions

Students on excursions and camps

When students are offsite (not on school grounds) and unsupervised with parental permission

Students with a dual enrolment or who need to undertake intercampus travel

Documentation

Unit of work, learning sequence

Individual Learning Plan, Individual Education Plan

Documentation

Student Health Support Plan

A localised student record

Documentation

Risk assessment planning documentation

Risk assessment planning documentation

Risk assessment planning documentation

Risk assessment planning documentation

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
Beaufort Secondary College will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones.

Exclusions
This policy does not apply to:

Out-of-school-hours events
Travelling to and from school
Students undertaking workplace learning activities, e.g. work experience
Students who are undertaking VET

Related policies and resources

BSC Student Wellbeing and Engagement, Code of Conduct, Bullying and Harassment.
Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy
Weapons — Banning, Searching and Seizing Harmful Items
Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy

This policy was last updated on December 2020 and is scheduled for review on December 2022.