Mobile Phone Policy
The BSC Mobile Phone Policy came into effect from the beginning of the 2020 school year.
Note that this is a ministerial policy formally issued by the Minister for Education under section 5.2.1(2)(b) of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Purpose of the Mobile Phone Policy
The purpose of this policy is to explain to our school community the requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones during school hours. These expectations are from both the Department of Education and Training and Brunswick Secondary College.
Scope
This policy applies to:
- All students at Brunswick Secondary College and,
- Students’ personal mobile phones brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.
This policy does not apply to
- Wearable devices
- iPads and all other personal devices
Definitions
A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network.
Policy
We understand that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.
At Brunswick 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 Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Brunswick 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 Brunswick 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 Brunswick 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.
Where students bring a mobile phone to school, they are required to store their phones either in their locked lockers or handed into the school general office to be placed in a lockable cupboard. The phone must be securely stored for duration between the student’s first and last class, including lunch and recess.
Enforcement
Students who use their personal mobile phones without having been granted an exception will have their phone immediately confiscated for the remainder of the school day. The phone can be collected after the student’s final class from the relevant Sub School office.
Exceptions to the policy:
- can be granted by the principal, or by the teacher for that class for learning
- may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met for health and wellbeing-related exceptions
- may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met relating to managing risk when students are offsite
The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phone Policy are:
- Learning-related exceptions
| Specific Exception | Documentation Required |
|---|---|
For specific learning activities (class-based exception). Please note, students will be advised in advance if a mobile will be permitted for use. | Unit of work, learning sequence |
| For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed due to a disability or learning difficulty | Individual Learning Plan |
- Specific Exception
| Specific Exception | Documentation Required |
|---|---|
| eg Students who are Young Carers | Localised Student Record |
- For specific learning activities (class-based exception). Please note: Students will be advised in advance if a mobile phone is required.
| Specific Exception | Documentation required |
|---|---|
| eg Students travelling to/from excursions | Risk assessment planning documentation |
| eg Students on excursions or camps | 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
Brunswick 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 students when
- when travelling to and from school
- when travelling to VET classes
- undertaking workplace learning activities e.g. work experience
- participating in out-of-school-hours events e.g. homework club, rehearsals
References
For further information, students, parents and carers are directed to the following sources of information: