Phone Free School

In August 2025, Bertha Park High School became phone-free. The story of that journey is detailed here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pupils still bring their phones to school?
Yes, pupils can still bring their phone but it must remain out of hands and out of sight for the whole time they are on the school premises. Some parents would like their children to have their phones with them for the commute to and from school - this can still happen. We do, however encourage parents not to send their children to school with a phone.
How can I get in touch with my child if there's an emergency, or a change of plans for later in the day?
All communications during the school day must now be conducted through the school office. The admin staff will be happy to relay message both ways immediately. This is how all communications were conducted up until about around 2015 - we are simply returning to that arrangement.
Can my child use their phone at lunchtime?
We will not be policing the local community at lunchtime, so your child can use their phone when off the school grounds, but not on the school grounds.
Will there be increased staff presence on the community at lunchtime?
The staff presence will remain as it is currently; we cannot police the community. Whilst we endeavour to have staff present in the community at some point during the lunch break, we cannot rely on this as policy.
Do the children have to put their phones in a locker?
No, pupils can still keep their phone in their bag, but it must remain out of sight and out of hands for the whole school day.
What happens if my child is found using their phone?
If a pupil is found using their phone, they will be instructed to surrender it to a member of staff, putting it in a padded envelope. The phone will be available for collection again at 3:40pm from the school office. Full details of this procedure, and what happens if this becomes a pattern, can be found in the What and How video above, and also on the infographic below.
If the phone is removed from my child, is it insured?
No. However, the phone will be placed in a padded envelope, sealed and signed by the pupil to ensure nothing is tampered with. Phones are not a required piece of equipment in school and it has been, from the school's opening in 2019, that phones and other personal devices are not covered by school nor council insurance.
What about pupils in S5 and S6? Are they not old enough to use their phones responsibly?
The rule applies to all year groups S1 to S6. Only part of the WHY is down to combatting irresponsible use of phones. There are other negative impacts of phone usage that we need to tackle which affects all pupils, and indeed staff. Please take of few minutes to watch the WHY video at the top of the page - this will explain the reasons behind the policy.
Are there exceptions for pupils using their phones?
There are exceptions only for medical purposes. Details can be found in the full policy, above.

Phone Free School

Here's why

Here's what and how

Full Policy

Frequently Asked Questions