Head Bans Phones After Techno-Bullying

A headteacher has banned mobile phones from his school because bullies used one to call a victim with threatening messages.

Although many schools have banned the use of the phone because they disrupt lessons,it is thought to be the first time one has been used as a tool of torment.

All 616 pupils at the school in England,have been told they must not bring phones into school.

The girl victim,who was being bullied by another group of girls,went to teachers after she received an anonymous message.

Mr Watson said it was the first instance of hi-tech bullying at the secondary school.

He said "We hope this was a one-off but we are particularly concerned that this sort of thing may have been going on without us knowing about it.Communication is important."

He said the school also encountered problems when a pupil who was feeling unwell used her mobile to ring her mother,asking her to collect her.

"The first we knew about it was when her mother turned up at the school" said Mr Watson.

"Clearly this sort of thing cannot go on.There is a pay phone and a phone in reception for any emergencies."

Mr Watson says children will now be asked to leave mobile phones at reception until the end the day.

Howard Martin,of the children's charity Kidscape,said he was aware of several cases of youngsters being bullied by mobiles.

"There are always positive and negative uses of any new technology unfortunately" he said.

For schools,mobiles are a new challenge and they are being forced to draw up policies to deal with their use.

Some parents have given their children mobiles because of concerns for their safety as they walk to school.

Headteacher Colin Fleetwood of a nearby school,has sent a letter home to parents asking them not to let their children bring mobiles to school.

"It never occurred to me there would be a problem in primary schools and we don't have a policy in place" he said.

"I'll be bringing up the issue with the school governors.It needs to be discussed."

He said mobile phones could disturb classes.

There was also the possibility of loss or damage to the phones.

For older children mobile phones have become a vital fashion accessory.

Head Teacher Malcolm Trobe has also reported a surge in mobile ownership since Christmas and estimated half the 700 childten in his upper school students had one.

"It is certainly a fashion item,the smaller the better,and there is a brand-conscious element" he said.

The school allows its students to bring the phones to school,as long as they handle them responsibly.

"We live in a fairly rural area,and for security reasons it is sometimes useful to have one.

"Some students have a reasonable walk home,on dark lanes,and I can understand why parents might want their children to have one" said Mr Trobe.

But the phones must be turned off during lessons.If a mobile rings in class,teachers can confiscate it until a parent comes into school to reclaim it.