QUEEN VICTORIA SCHOOL MOBILE PHONE CONTRACT Mobile phones have made contact between boarders and their families easier and more frequent. Although this can be a mixed blessing, on the whole Queen Victoria School welcomes the use of mobile phones provided that they are used responsibly. They must not be taken into class nor any other part of the working day and must not be used during prep. It is essential that pupils understand that misuse of mobile phones, including texting and photographing facilities, will result in confiscation. Messages must not be salacious, offensive, insulting or derogatory. Pupils should be aware that a special ICT unit has been set up in Scotland to tackle all sorts of computer related crime and messages can be traced. Due to Child Protection issues, mobile phones which have picture facility should be used appropriately. Photo-phones are now a major issue in terms of invasion of privacy etc. I would be grateful if the following could be discussed with your son/daughter so that they are fully aware of their responsibility in this direction: The use of the picture-messaging facility on phones within the School is strictly forbidden. Pupils must adhere to the following:• • • The pupil is entirely responsible for the use of his/her phone. Phones must be protected by a PIN number known only to the pupil. The Bluetooth facility on the phone should be switched off. Failure to do so will be treated as a refusal to follow the School guidelines and will result in the mobile phone sanctions being imposed. This is because the use of Bluetooth, Infrared and SYNC allows explicit material to be passed from one phone to another without the receiver actively requesting such images. Spot checks will be carried out to ensure that pupils are complying with these guidelines. Junior pupils may have their mobile telephones collected in and locked away before lights out. LC: Reports-Policies/Mobile Phone Contract – revised 26.02.07 1 If pupils wish to have a mobile phone at School it must not be used outside the following times: a. b. c. d. in the morning until Chapel in House areas break and lunchtime in House areas after classes until Prep end of Prep till lights out The following are times when a mobile phone should definitely not be used: a. b. c. Class time During Prep After lights out Use of texting and photography facilities: a. Inappropriate use will result in confiscation If pupils do not abide by this contract, pupils and parents must be aware that the following will be the consequences: 1st Offence - mobile phone confiscated for 2 weeks 2nd Offence - mobile phone confiscated for 1 month and to be picked up at a later date by parents 3rd Offence - mobile phone confiscated for 1 term Continual infringements will result in permanent loss of mobile phone. (NB this does not debar pupils from communication by land lines/email etc.) I agree to the above conditions in terms of the use of a mobile phone:Pupil’s Name: Signature: Date: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Parent’s signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________ WARNING: A recent Government report has stated that there is a potential risk to children through the overuse of mobile phones. LC: Reports-Policies/Mobile Phone Contract – revised 26.02.07 2