Managing mobiles – switch off, store or leave at home
Please see information on our Mobile Phone Policy:
To provide a safer learning environment free from distractions, Beechworth Secondary College will be ensuring students follow our Mobile Phone Policy.
The existing state wide policy is simple: mobile phones brought to school must be switched off and stored securely during the school day. This policy has been in place at all government schools since 2020.
Studies from here and overseas clearly show that schools with effective mobile phone bans have improved student achievement and calmer learning environments.
We need your help to make these same gains at BSC. We are asking parents and carers to:
- Reinforce our policy. Make sure your child knows that mobile phones are to be switched off and stored throughout the school day. Make sure they understand it is reasonable and expected for staff to enforce this rule.
- Reconsider taking a mobile phone to school. With very rare exceptions, your children does not need a mobile phone during school hours.
Exceptions include requiring a mobile device to manage a medical condition or where teachers have granted a classroom-based learning exception. Other exceptions, such as a school excursion, are determined by school leadership.
We know this can lead to difficult conversations with your child!
We also know that BSC will be a better place to socialise and learn without the anxiety and intrusion and distraction of mobile phone use – and that means switching it off and storing it or leaving it at home.
Please refer to the attached Frequently Asked Questions for further information on the importance of our mobile phone policy. The Useful Links attachment provides information in different languages on the importance of keeping mobile phones out of the classroom.
Always remember, in emergencies parents can contact their children via reception on 03 57281624.
We are always happy to pass on messages or arrange for your child to contact you.
Thank you for helping us switch off, so our students can switch on at school.