Dear Parent and Carers
Families may be aware of the new recommendation on mobile phones in schools provided by the Department for Education which prohibits the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime for students in Years 7 to 11.
As families are aware, this fits with our current procedures at Key Stage 3 and we will now bring Key Stage 4 into line with the occasional use of devices in lessons to support learning stopping. There are exceptions in a couple of subject areas for students as they complete work for this year’s examinations which we will manage carefully and we will be in touch with families separately about these arrangements. We are also going to now insist that mobile phones are not used at the end of the school day until students have left the school site.
In short, this means that no student in Years 7 to 11 needs a mobile phone in school and they should not be bringing them to school. If seen they will continue to be confiscated and have to be collected by a responsible adult. We have updated our FAQ document (below) which we hope will be helpful.
Sixth Form students will continue to only be allowed to use devices for research in the designated Sixth Form study areas of the school in line with guidance.
Thank you for your support with this matter.
John Marston, Headteacher, February 2026
The following Mobile Phone FAQ relates to day to day in school, school trips and school events for Years 7-11
FAQ
I need to contact my child during the school day, how can I do this?
You can get a message to your child via the school office. You can call us on 01491 837115 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
My child needs to contact me during the school day, how do they do this?
Your child can access the contact numbers you have shared with us and call you via our student phone in the school office.
My child has a medical need that specifically requires them to access a mobile phone e.g. Diabetes. Are they allowed a phone in school?
Absolutely. Any students with Diabetes will have a Health Plan in place that is supported by the School Health Nurse Team and shared with teachers.
My child needs a mobile phone so I can contact them on the journey to and from school. Where can they keep it during the school day?
The school is unable to provide a place for your child to keep their phone during the school day. No phones are to be seen in school from the time they arrive in school until students leave the school site at the end of the school day. If a phone is seen, it will be confiscated, and the parent contacted to pick it up. If your child must have a phone for travel reasons, then it would be a decision for you to make with these arrangements in place.
We would encourage all families to strongly consider if it is possible to make alterative arrangements that don’t require a phone, depending on the journey your child makes. If you feel that your child must have a phone for their journey, we would strongly encourage a phone that prevents access to the internet, social media and doesn’t have a camera but enables simple messaging and phone calls. Our Behaviour Policy applies to school transport provided by OCC Mainstream Transport.
How will my child be able to view their timetable without a phone?
Students receive a printed copy of their timetable on their first day in September. We are happy to print additional copies as required but current students have shared ‘top tips’ of placing it in a plastic wallet to preserve copies or even laminate it.Parents can access their child’s timetable on Satchel:One (website or app) to support them to be organised for the day ahead.
How will my child access their homework if they can’t use their phone to check the homework app?
We use Satchel:One to set homework; this is a website as well as an app. Parents can download the app to view the homework but there is no need for students to access the app as they can view homework on the website on a computer or similar device.
What about digital homework set? How will they access MathsWatch, Educake or similar without a phone?
MathsWatch and Educakeare websites rather than apps and can be accessed on a laptop or another device, supported by parent supervision as appropriate.
My child takes part in after school activities, so I need to be able to contact them after school hours – how do we manage this?
The school office is open until 4pm and can receive and share messages if your child’s activity is on site.If your child’s activity is off site e.g. a sportsfixture, then the details of the fixture will be shared on the Satchel:One website. This will include an estimated ETA when we would ask parents to pick up. Please note that members of staff are leading or often officiating these fixtures so won’t always be able to update families. Please be understanding of this should they arrive later than the ETA.
My child is on a school trip during the school day. Can they bring a phone to take photos?
IIf your child would like to take photos on a school trip, they are welcome to bring a camera that is not on a mobile phone. Phones are not permitted on the journey to and from the venue.
My child is on a school trip outside of school hours. How will I know if the ETA changes?
You will receive details about the trip in advance. This will include an ETA back at school. You will be notified of any change to this, or receive a confirmation of the arrival time via email (We use Edulink to facilitate this). We aim to send this to parents as we leave the destination, or when we are approximately 1 hour away where possible.
What if they wish to make a purchase on a trip?
Students will be unable to do this using their phones so they will need to bring the bank card linked with their account or cash.
Are there any trips that my child requires a phone for?
We continue to reflect upon a small number of trips where students maybenefit from having a way to make contact via a mobile phone or device e.g. French and German Exchanges and some visits abroad in Years 10-13. We will continue to keep families updated as appropriate.
The trip my child is participating in is an overnight stay or several nights away. Are the arrangements around phones any different for these trips?
Nothey are not. Phone free trips allow students to enjoy the trip without any distractions and ensure that the school is able to safeguard students. Students accessing mobile phones on such trips can lead to challenges that are outside of the control of the members of staff supporting the trip. A member of the Senior Leadership team is the home contact for all trips and we share the phone number you can contact them on with you in advance of the trip, if you need to make contact withthe staff team supporting your child. Similarly, Wallingford School staff accompanying the trip will make contact with you if required. We want as many of our students to take part in overnight or residential trips as possible, but if you decide that your child is unable to be away from home without a mobile phone then we would ask you to consider how they can be supported so that they can participate in the trip or if they should participate at all. Please speak with your child’s tutor or Head of Year in advance of the trip so that we can work together to find a way to support all concerned.
What about the use of Smart watches, GPS trackers or Air Tags?
Whilst a Smartwatch may seem like an alternative, it can be highly distracting for a child to have this on their wrist during the school day. Parental controls can vary significantly, and all watches must be removed during assessments to meet exam requirements.
If you feel that you need to track your child whilst they are at school or on a school trip, we would strongly encourage you to speak with your child’s Form Tutor or Head of Year so we can understand more about why this is felt necessary and support as appropriate.
Where can I find more information about Online Safety or digital support for parents?
In addition to the resources on our website, including those from our parent workshops, information and support for parents can be found here;
Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board
National Safety Online - information about apps and games
https://www.bbc.com/ownit/the-basics
DFE - advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying
Looking to go phone free?
- Speak with your child to discuss the arrangements for the day to limit the need to make contact throughout the day
- Consider a designated meeting point and time if your child is attending an after school club or fixture
- Outside of school hours, consider “check ins” to build confidence that you and your child can manage without a smartphone
- Support your child to learn parent or carer phone numbers in case of emergency outside of school hours.