Smartphones and Digital Technology
At Headington Rye Oxford, we help young people become confident but discerning users of digital technology.
We recognise the transformative potential of digital tech in education, but we also believe that our pupils benefit from building their social and interpersonal skills in an offline world.
Just as the digital world is constantly evolving, so is our approach to supporting Headington Rye pupils and families in their digital journey.
Working with families
Young people are most likely to develop a healthy and productive relationship with digital tech if informed and engaged parents work in tandem with the School.
Does my child need a smartphone?
No. Pupils get safe and secure educational access to the online world using school devices, and if you need to contact them whilst they are at school we are always available to take and pass on messages. If you want them to be contactable whilst travelling, consider a ‘dumb’ phone.
If I want to get my daughter a smartphone, when is it appropriate to do so?
Only when you feel comfortable and are sure she is ready. If you decide to get her a smartphone we recommend that, at least initially, you consider heavily restricting online time and limiting access to only the most basic apps.
Where can I find up-to-date advice for parents?
We provide information for parents of all those joining Year 7 in the term before they arrive. We also give parents on-going access to the National College platform, where you can find practical guides to everything from installing parental controls to understanding age restrictions on popular apps.
What is your policy for mobile phones in school?
Mobile phones must not be used during the school day and will be confiscated if they are seen. Phones can be stored in lockers, bags, or coats, but must be turned off. We want our pupils to spend their time in school interacting with each other, not with their phones.
As a parent, what can I do to help?
If you choose to give your child a smartphone, we encourage you to consider using parental controls to remotely lock it during the school day.
Why do you not ban phones completely, or collect them when pupils arrive in school?
Many parents want their children to have access to a phone during journeys in and out of school and we understand why this is important. Collecting and returning phones is restrictive and would be disruptive in a busy day and boarding school with a broad range of after-school activities, fixtures, and trips.
Our digital strategy for learning
We want young people to become savvy users of digital tech and to develop the confidence to use online tools to their own advantage in their learning and professional future.
All pupils in Years 7-11 are issued with a school iPad, which offers the safest and most flexible online access, both at school and at home. Pupils in Sixth Form are required to provide their own digital device (laptop or tablet), appropriate to their courses of study.
We use ‘Google Apps for Education’, which includes Google Classroom and access to a full suite of Google Workspace Apps.
Do the pupils do all their work online?
No. iPads and digital tools are used when it is appropriate and beneficial.
Will my daughter still do handwritten work?
Yes, all the time. We value pupils developing handwriting skills and the thinking skills that develop when producing prose in handwritten form.
What are the benefits of using iPads in the classroom?
iPads empower teachers to introduce flexible and collaborative learning activities. Examples include:
- filming dance movements to help develop choreographic skills
- undertaking academic research using online library resources
- working collaboratively to produce presentation materials
On a practical level, the ability to share digital resources means a reduction in the requirement for heavy and expensive textbooks and gives pupils and teachers access to an increasingly sophisticated suite of productivity tools to support their learning
Online safety
The safest way for our pupils to access the internet is by using the school iPads or using desktop PCs connected to the school network. This is because:
- We have robust web filtering systems in place to ensure that pupils cannot access harmful content. With the iPads, the same filters are in place when your daughter uses the device outside school on any WiFi network.
- School devices are constantly monitored by a system that flags up concerning behaviour such as undesirable internet searches.
- Pupils can only install pre-approved apps on the iPads.
- Whether via an App or in a browser, pupils are not able to access social media on the iPads.
- YouTube is a useful tool for teaching and learning, but we limit access to educational content and have installed controls that eliminate autoplay features after a video has finished. We also remove access to the comments feature.
- We strongly recommend that parents install effective web filtering systems on home computers and personal devices. Parents should also consider implementing simple rules at home, such as a device curfew or whole-family screen time limits.
Educating pupils
Young people need to develop a healthy relationship with digital technology.
This means understanding the risks, challenges and benefits of tech as well as the importance of embedding good habits and healthy behaviours.
How do you educate the pupils in online safety?
Predominantly through our weekly PSHE lessons, where girls are taught everything from Digital Skills and E-Safety, to Navigating Social Media and Understanding AI. We also run a Digital Skills day in Year 7 for all pupils.
How do you ensure that pupils don’t spend too much time on the iPads outside lessons?
By offering and promoting an exciting range of extracurricular activities that take place at lunchtime and after school and making attendance at some of these compulsory for girls in Years 7 and 8. We also encourage the girls to use our fantastic outdoor spaces and we offer sports equipment so they can stay active and play informal games.