Finishing yr 6 starting yr 7 - useful to know (a year on).

Spendless

That's another one worth checking out. All kids at my son's school must remain on the premises at lunchtime unless you give written notice that you give permission for them to go home for lunch. This applies to all years (but there's no sixth form).

Janepig

Spendless wrote: »

That's another one worth checking out. All kids at my son's school must remain on the premises at lunchtime unless you give written notice that you give permission for them to go home for lunch. This applies to all years (but there's no sixth form).

That's the same around here too, which I'm glad about. I know when I was in school we weren't allowed off the school grounds at lunchtime, neither was DH in his old school, which DD/DS will be going to, but I wasn't sure if this was still the case. I see no reason for children to be going off school grounds at lunchtime (unless going home for lunch like one of my friends used to) so it's a good rule to have imo).

Jx

juno

Spendless wrote: »

Any chance of a link? I googled the YacPac brand you mentioned but couldn't find an animal one.

I think they mean their DS gt an "Animal" as in the brand bag, not an animal patterned yakpak

thegirlintheattic

Cat501 wrote: »

That would be fine, our school doesn't have lockers though so they have to be carried in their bag/pocket. Personally though, I wouldn't like DS being told he couldn't use his at lunchtime if he's off the school grounds which he usually is.

It won't get found unless it's out and being used.

Darren_G

daisiegg wrote: »

They a probably not completely forbidden to take them to school - I'd imagine it's more like the rule at my school where phones have to be switched off and locked in their lockers from the first bell in the morning to the end of the day. If they are found with a phone on them during the day (even at lunchtime) it is confiscated, the pupil gets a 2 hour detention after school on Friday and the phone is only returned to a parent. It works very well!

No, not supposed to have them in school at all: Extract from the school prospectus, which is also in every school planner and as a footnote in every newsletter home:

Mobile Phones/MP3s/Ipods
Students are not permitted to bring mobile phones/MP3s/iPods into school. As well as being a distraction to the learning environment that we strive to create, they are a target for theft. School does not accept responsibility for them whatsoever. Should a student bring one of these items into school, it will be confiscated and only returned to parent/carers on Friday of that week as stated in the student planner

Now obviously if they have a phone with them for emergencies that is hidden away in the bottom of their bag switched off, the teachers will not see it;) The problem is, how many kids would not be tempted to try and send a few texts at break time. I have three girls, and would only trust the eldest to have that responsibility. She will be in sixth from from September anyway, and they are allowed to have their phones with them.

Poppy9

DD school policy on moblies:

Mobile phones are allowed in a student’s bag for use to and from school, but are NOT allowed to be seen or turned on during the school hours from 8.20am to 3.00pm.

In the last 6 years I know DD used her phone during school as she's rung/text me break/lunchtime if she needs me. They go in the loos! Her phone has gone off only once during lessons but the teacher let her off as "that's not like you" came into play:T

When the school closed mid morning due to snow pupils were banned from using their mobiles to contact parents while on school premises. Parents were not informed by the school that it was closing aside from announcements on local radio station - not much good if you are in work. Seemed silly not to allow the younger pupils to contact parents as not all the pupils are within walking distance and public transport was patchy

Spendless

It's only since my son started Secondary that his school has allowed mobiles, though from my friends who had older kids there, they all had them but left them in their bag.

If a phone makes a noise during lessons, rings, noise of text sent it is an automatic after school detention. My son fell foul of this once. The day before children with attendance above a certain % were allowed out of school to watch the Olympic torch going past. DS set the alarm on his phone, so he knew when they were scheduled and the following day it went off in class at the same time cos he'd forgotten to turn it off.

chewynut

Ahh, this thread is bringing back so many memories. Mostly miserable ones so I have no idea why I'm smiling.

Another thing I've remembered is that a lot of kids seem to lose that weird/stupid/incredibly annoying herd mentality during the summer between year nine and ten. The kids who quite happily bullied other kids for not having a branded bag, or an unusual hairstyle (by unusual, I mean one that is different to theirs) suddenly arrive with a whole new attitude towards kids who are in any way different to them.

So if you have a kid who comes home miserable because some brainwashed little snotbag made a comment about them, tell them that that little sheep will grow up one day and realise that it's okay to be different.