New Government regulations require that schools must ensure students do not use or access a phone while they are attending school, including during lunch time and breaks.
As you may be aware the Government has introduced regulations that require all state and state-integrated schools to put in place school rules regarding mobile phones.
International research indicates that cellphones in schools are not conducive for learning and for student wellbeing. Therefore, these rules are designed to ensure that the learning of all students is maximised, while minimising any potential for distraction and cyber-bullying.
What are the new rules?
The new regulations require that schools must ensure students do not use or access a phone while they are attending school, including during lunch time and breaks. This includes students who are on a school course or visit outside the school grounds.
The new rules allow students to use or access a phone in certain circumstances including:
- a phone is needed for health reasons (for example, to monitor insulin levels); or
- a phone is needed to help a student with a disability or learning support need (for example, to assist with impaired communication); or
- a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment); or
- the principal decides that they are needed for special circumstances (for example, the student is a teenage parent).
Burnside High School’s bylaws already limit use of mobile phones during class time unless teachers specifically allow devices for use as part of a learning activity so the new rules are consistent with our current practice in the classroom. What will be different, under the new rules, is that schools must now prohibit students from using mobile phones during interval and lunchtimes.
When do the new rules take effect?
The new government mobile phone rules must be in use as soon as possible in Term 1 2024 and no later than Term 2.
Our current mobile phone procedures remain in place while our bylaws are being updated to reflect the new regulations, meaning that mobile phones must not be used in class unless specifically requested by a teacher.
How parents and caregivers can help
We are having conversations with students here at school about the new mobile phone rules and how this will assist student learning. We are also stressing to students the importance of complying with these new requirements so that programmes of learning are not disrupted. I would be grateful for parent/caregivers to speak to your teens about these rules and to reinforce the expectations of the school.
Finally, it is important to note that if students do make the decision to bring a mobile phone to school, they do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for any loss or damage caused to any mobile phone.
Please expect further communication about this during Term One. Thank you in advance for your support.
Scott Haines
Principal
