Policy Concerning Property Confiscated from Pupils

Policy Concerning Property Confiscated from Pupils

Purpose

This policy describes the procedure to be followed when confiscating property from pupils.

Property which pupils should not bring into school is stated in The School’s Code of Conduct, copies of which are given to all pupils and students. The property listed in the Code of Conduct is that which is likely to disrupt the education of pupils, is potentially harmful or is dangerous.

Scope

This policy applies to all pupils/students.

Links to Other Policies

School Code of Conduct

*Protocol on searching students

Pupil Exclusions

Procedures

Any member of staff confiscating pupil/student property that is prohibited by the school Code of Conduct, where possible, must place it in an envelope on which the name and form of the pupil/student must be written along with the date. Pupils/students will be informed that they should report to their COL to discuss its return.

*Staff should complete the report as detailed in the protocol for searching students where this procedure has to be followed.

The envelope should then be passed to the relevant Co-ordinator of Learning.
If the property is to be kept in school until collected by parents, then it must be handed into the school office by The Co-ordinator of Learning at the end of the day on which it was confiscated.
Any prohibited consumable property or any consumables which have been bought or sold on school premises will be disposed of.
When pupils/students/parents collect confiscated property they must sign the envelope in which the property had been placed in order to acknowledge safe receipt of it.
If any legally prohibited items are confiscated for example (drugs, offensive weapons, alcohol or stolen goods) a senior member of staff must be informed and pupils referred to that person immediately.* If a search has to be conducted because it is suspected that a student may be in possession of one of the aforementioned items, it is essential that the protocol on searching is followed.

Responsibility for Property

Property which should not be brought to school is clearly stated in the Pupil/Student Code of Conduct. Pupils/students and parents are made aware that such property must not be brought into school because it is likely to be harmful, dangerous or will disrupt the education of others. Whilst the school will take every reasonable step in order not to lose confiscated property, because it is made clear that certain items should not be brought into school and the reason for this, the College and its staff cannot be held responsible for any confiscated property which is accidentally lost.

Property Which Should Normally be Confiscated from Pupils

Mobile phones if handed in according to the policy

Personal Electronic Devices

Inappropriate Literature*

Offensive Weapons* (such as knives) prohibited

Fireworks*

Cigarettes*

Alcohol* prohibited

Drugs* prohibited

Stolen goods * prohibited

Jewellery (other than watches)

Goods brought into school to sell to others*

* Applies to students in Year 12/13 as well.

This list is not exhaustive.

Operating Procedures for Confiscation of Phones/Music Players

At the start of the year all students in years 7-11 will be informed of the policy using the Long Code of Conduct and the policy sheet.
Teacher will either confiscate the item or instruct the pupil to take it to the office
Teacher should check that the item has been placed in the office; if it has not then the COL must be informed.
Confiscated item to be recorded on the spread sheet.
Item placed in envelope with label bearing the student’s name and form and should be placed in the cupboard.
First offence – item can be returned after 3.10pm. Student must sign the envelope, which is passed on to the Co-ordinator of Learning together with the teacher card. Return of the property must be recorded on the spreadsheet. (The number of offences should be completed).

Parents to be informed of the confiscation by standard letter, which should be placed in the Co-ordinator of Learning tray to be signed. The policy on confiscation should accompany this letter.

Subsequent Offences – subsequent flouting of the rule will result in a parent/guardian having to collect the item, at a time convenient to the school and parent, and further defiance will result in confiscation for five school days.

Parents to be informed by standard letter, signed by Co-ordinator of Learning. Date of return to be noted and policy on confiscation also. Return of the property must be recorded on the spread sheet.

Operating Procedures for Confiscation of Drinks

As a Healthy School, we believe that it is our responsibility to educate our students about a healthy diet. We also have a responsibility to ensure that our students are educated in an environment which is conducive to learning.

Recent scientific studies suggest that excessive consumption of carbonated and sugary drinks have an adverse effect on both long term and short term health.

We observed that many of our students were having several of these drinks during the school day.

Furthermore, since this is the healthiest option, we advise students to drink water, which is free of charge.

At the start of the year all students will be informed of the policy using the Long Code of Conduct and the policy sheet.

Should a student ignore the ban, the item should be disposed of.

St Francis Xavier’s College

Policy on the use of Mobile Phones, IPods and MP3 Players

We understand that most students have mobile phones, music players and hand held game consuls.

However, we are concerned about the issues that the use of these items in school raises. On occasions these possessions can, and do, cause disruption to lessons and sometimes lead to confrontation between student and teacher. Mobile phones that have the capacity to take photographs/videos have been misused and in doing so infringe the right of privacy.

We have always asked that expensive items are not brought into school. IPods, MP3 Players and other game consuls fall into this category along with mobile phones. They may well be lost, damaged or provide the temptation for theft. Students who use them inappropriately in lessons, disrupt the learning of others.

Crucially, it should be noted that all examination boards reserve the right to disqualify students found with any electronic equipment in an examination.

It is felt necessary to reinforce the College’s Behaviour Policy with regard to these items:

Mobile phones are not allowed in school.
The only exception to this is if the student needs to contact a parent before or after the school day, then the phone must be left in the school office to be collected after 3.10pm
It should be noted that photographs or videos are not to be taken on school premises by students without permission. This means that no photographs or videos can be taken with a mobile phone at any time either inside or outside of the building. Any student found to be ignoring this rule will be referred to the COL. The minimum sanction to be imposed will be a Saturday morning detention. In some instances the Headteacher may consider formal exclusion from school
There may be occasions when parents feel it necessary to contact their children during the day or a student may need to speak with a parent. Should such an emergency arise then all contact should go through the school office in the normal way. A student should seek the permission of a teacher before phoning parents.
The College’s Code of Conduct states that students should not bring music devices/mobile phones to school. It follows then that students will not use music players or phones in lessons
Music players, games consoles or phones which are used during the school day will be confiscated
The period of confiscation for the initial offence will be until the end of that school day
Subsequent flouting of the rule will result in a parent/guardian having to collect the item, at a time convenient to the school and parent, and further defiance will result in confiscation for five school days.