Confiscation has been a hot topic on social media this week. Ramona Derbyshire clarifies schools’ and teachers’ legal rights
If a teacher confiscates a mobile phone (or something else of value) from a pupil and it then gets broken or lost, who is responsible, and who must therefore bear the cost of replacing the item? Is it the teacher, the pupil or the school? And what does the law say about how long it is reasonable to withhold such items from pupils?
Legally, the school has taken possession of the pupil’s property. However, Section 94 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 states that where a teacher disciplines a pupil by confiscating an item, neither the teacher nor the school will be liable for any loss or damage to that item. Equally, there is no statutory liability on schools for items that go missing in other ways.
This will no doubt come as a relief to schools. However, there are some caveats to all this.
First, the disciplinary penalty must be lawful. This means the action must be reasonable, proportionate and imposed by an authorised person (normally a paid member of the teaching staff) and not in breach of any statutory requirement or prohibition. The act does give some helpful guidance on considerations to be taken when deciding if such a penalty is reasonable: these include deciding whether the punishment is proportionate in all the circumstances, and whether there are any personal characteristics relevant to the pupil, including their age, special educational needs, disability or any religious requirements (e.g. dress) affecting the imposition of the penalty.
Second, the school’s policy on items such as mobile phones and other electronics should be communicated clearly to the pupil and their parents or guardians. They should be told that bringing such items into school is done so at their own risk. The policy should also outline what is considered acceptable phone use and that the school retains the right to confiscate items for inappropriate use.
The school owes a duty to each child in its care
Third, when school staff confiscate such items they should also take reasonable steps to ensure their safety, such as storing them in lockers in the staff room.
However, even if the school adheres to all the above, additional complications can arise. Picture the following scenario: the parents of the pupil whose phone has been removed lodge a complaint with the head the following day. Their child was unable to call home, telling their parents they had been held back for detention, or decided to stay on for a revision session that night; this caused untold worry for the parents, who were left in the dark and unable to get hold of their child.
In short, the school owes a duty to each child in its care, requiring it to do what is reasonable to protect the health, safety and welfare of children and dependent on the facts of each individual case. Following the guidance from the act, confiscating a pupil’s phone overnight for a student who is older, lives locally and is not otherwise vulnerable is likely to be seen as more reasonable than a younger child, or one with special needs, whose phone may be an important safety item.
In summary, the law does protect the teacher and school, provided the guidelines are followed.
Ramona Derbyshire is a partner at Thrings
My son had his phone confiscated this week. He stupidly sent a text in detention and by the school rules he loses the phone for four weeks.
My concern is that my 11 year old son suffers from ADHD, ODD and high anxiety levels. He has to travel by himself to school on a public bus across three towns to get to school.
The phone is there for emergency purposes and we have an app where we can exactly where he is. So in essence it’s there for Safeguarding purposes.
The school seemed to dismiss these facts, even though I said that perhaps a better solution would be for him to hand the phone in on arrival at school and to collect it on the way out of school and that we would confiscate it on his arrival at home.
However the school were happy for us to but another phone for him to use……bizarre!
We are happy to support the school with their rules, but in this instance some common sense has to prevail.
What can we do?
did you get anywhere with this matter or did they retain it for 4 weeks. i think it breaches the safeguarding responsibilities that they have towards your child. 4 weeks is excessive.
its illegal to keep a phone after school ours
Can you elaborate on this a bit more? My 12-Year-old son had his phone confiscated for 24 hours and we all think it’s very stupid to say the least.
My daughter has a 1 hour commute to school across east London, she is 11. Her new secondary have a strict no phone policy and refused to make allowances for my daughter due to to length and complications of her journey. We told them we would send her with a phone anyway, as we feel this a breach of safeguarding, especially as the have 2 mandatory late nights a week and she has to travel home in the dark. She had her phone confiscated in a ‘random’ bag check and has now lost it until the end of term (Christmas) – would you have any advice on how to deal? They are unwilling to budge despite me explaining the above.
My sons phone was confiscated for 6 weeks which is not concidered in any case to be acceptable punishment. My son is 11 and considered under law a vulnerable child. He had only just transitioned from primary school. The schools policy says no mobile phones in school. However I As a parent and the school have a duty to protect my child’s under the children’s act and safeguarding law.
The European Convention on Human Rights, together with its first protocol, guar- antees the right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions in all states party to the Con- vention. These states have an obligation to guarantee this right, an alleged violation of which can be examined by the European Court of Human Rights. If the Court finds a violation of the right, just satisfaction, inclu- ding the payment of compensation, can be awarded for the deprivation of your property.
Once put to the school all these
Factors and considerations will ensure the immediate return of your property.
At my school if they take your phone you have to pay £4 to get it back. Isn’t there like a law against that or something?
Presumably, If you do not pay they will not return your phone. This may count as theft as you can argue that they have no intention of returning it.
Can a school teacher ask my seven year old adhd to unlock his phone and then take a picture of his pictures and pass on the picture to social services
Depends what for
Not in the U.S.A. it’s an illegal search, you are not even required to give your passcode, fingerprint scan to the Police, it falls under the 5th amendments right not to incriminated one’s self.
Taking anyone’s property without their consent is theft.
Detention and letters home is the solution to this.
Confiscation of phones is wrong and unlawful.
My Thone got taken today agents’ my will and was refused to be returned to me. What should I do?
Well im a child and theres and easy soloution that i do just dont give they cant do anything about it all they will do is give u a detention
Technically the person who took your phone or someone’s phone is taking the phone with consent and it is technically theft and is taking someone’s private property which schools like to discourage students to do so by taking private property from students depending upon their age will take after the teachers with is being a very bad rolemodel and encourages the student to take things without consent with again is theft so no schools should not be able to take phones bc it is a violation of your private property
Can you elaborate on this a bit more? My 12-Year-old son had his phone confiscated for 24 hours and we all think it’s very stupid to say the least.
My 10 year old son takes his phone to school, hands it to a teacher and they lock it away until the end of the day , however my son came home today and said the school have lost it.
Where do I stand on this? The phone was handed to a teacher this morning and has been given no other explanation other than it was supposed to be put in a locked cupboard and it’s not there.
Any help and guidance would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Can a school take your phone while outside of school and refuse to give it back
It is legal but It isn’t to take it but not give it back as that’s stealing
My son phone was taken on Thursday and was told it will be held till next Tuesday without letting me know I struggled to find him after school and he missed his online tutorial at home that day and for the remaining days. Also he stays home alone with me so when I am not home he cannot call emergency services or myself in case he needs me. he is 15 years old. Is this legal. By the way the school didn’t inform me of that.