SCC Mobile Phone Policy 25/26
Dear Parents / Guardians,
We are writing to you today to let you know about a new directive that all schools have received from the Dept of Education titled “Restricting the use of and access to personal mobile phones by students during the school day.” (Circular 0045/2025).
Under this directive, schools are required to implement a policy to restrict the use of and access to, personal mobile phones by students for the duration of the school day, including during breaks and at lunchtime.
The Department’s policy to restrict the use of phones by students during the school day, outside of limited exceptions, will enable schools to provide a phone-free environment, to support students’ wellbeing, concentration, academic performance, and development. It will provide a space for children and young people to disconnect from their online world and can assist in supporting them to become less dependent on their mobile phones.
Accordingly, in Scariff Community College, from the first day of term, students will not be permitted to use or in any way access their phones from their arrival at school (including the school grounds and buildings) and until after the end of the school day. For this reason, and to help students quickly adapt to the revised rules, we would strongly advise that phones are left at home.
In the event that a student is found accessing their phone anywhere on the school campus, the phone will be confiscated. Parents/Guardians will be asked to make an appointment to meet with their son or daughter’s Year Head during the school day to collect the phone. Phones will only be returned to parents at a time pre-arranged with Year Head.
For incoming First Years, we are trialling the use of Phone Pouches. Students who bring their phones to school will have to place them in a pouch, where they will remain locked and inaccessible for the duration of the school day. This trial may be expanded to individual students, Year Groups or the entire student body at a later date.
My colleagues and I appreciate that this updated policy will involve a change to some students’ previous habits and practices, but we strongly believe that the benefits to students will quickly be felt. We thank you in advance for your support in this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Angela McNamara & Jack O’Connell