GLF Schools

GLF Schools

GLF Schools was founded in 2012 in order to enable the federation of Glyn School (an academy in 2011) and Danetree Junior School. Together, we began our journey to become a MAT of more than 1000 talented staff working with over 10,000 children in 40 schools across 5 regions in southern England.

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Mobile Phone Expectations at Cuddington

Aim: 

From September 2024, Cuddington took the step to ban smart phones for pupils at Cuddington Croft. 

Our overall hope is that the emphasis from the school, for the reasons outlined on this page, will support families to delay giving their child a smartphone or a tablet with access to messaging apps.  

During your child’s time at Cuddington, we aim to provide an education for children and, indeed, parents and carers about the safe use of smartphones and staying safe online. This is delivered through the content taught in our curriculum and links made with external charities. 

What are the mobile phone expectations at Cuddington?

  • Children who are independent walkers are allowed to bring in a mobile phone that does not have internet access, but can make and receive calls and text messages, commonly referred to as a ‘dummy phone’.  

  • The phone will be switched off on arrival and handed in to the teacher at the beginning of the day and returned at the end of the day.  

  • No smartwatches (which can take pictures, text or make and receive calls) are allowed. 

We appreciate that parents may still wish to purchase a smartphone for their child; however, we ask that this is not brought to school. 

Sanctions 

If a child brings in a smart phone they will firstly be reminded of the above expectations; if they bring it in a subsequent time, it will be sent to the office where the child can pick it up from at the end of school day.

If the smart phone continues to be brought in, then it will be sent to the office where the parent or carer will need to come in and collect the phone. 

The Why 

Below are some of the main reasons behind the decision:  

  • Children’s lack of life experience means their ability to self-regulate at a younger age is still developing and we are increasingly seeing young people make poor decisions online and engage in forms of communication that they would not do so in person. We would like to educate the children, both at home and at school, in how to use technology appropriately, rather than them ‘learning from their mistakes’ when the damage is done. 

  • We have seen smartphones increase the exposure of children to harmful and inappropriate content (largely shared through group messages, apps such as Tiktok or internet searches). 

  • The increase in cyberbullying incidents which have had a serious impact on children’s mental health (again, often through group messages or through communications on apps). 

  • The increase in safeguarding incidents where children have been communicating online with people that they have not met in person or know. 

  • The increase in safeguarding incidents where children have shared or uploaded to the internet inappropriate pictures of themselves or their peers. 

  • Research studies have shown that where children are not using smartphones, it has resulted in children feeling happier, being less concerned with how they look, feeling less lonely, building self-esteem and having increased focus/concentration.  

  • Other local schools are joining the grassroots movement. 

  • The feedback from the parent surveys suggests that this is the best way for us to support our parents. 

  • Alternative tracking systems available to those that would like to use the feature of tracking their child. 

How you can get involved? 

We do understand that this is a sensitive topic so, firstly, we ask for the support from all parent and carers with this new approach by adhering to the expectations.  

  • Educate yourself with online safety strategies to support your child alongside methods to monitor your child’s online activity. Please see resources below.  
     
  • Explore the national grassroots movements. Please see links below 
     
  • You may also wish to show your support by signing a Parent Pact. 

Further information and top tips