Statement of Intent
At the FIS, we are committed to ensuring that students’ use of personal devices enhances learning in the classroom, and does not detract from social interaction and privacy of students and staff. The FIS acknowledges that parents provide personal devices to their children for personal and security reasons, especially for commuting to and from school. The school encourages parents to discuss with their children what kinds of limitations, including parental controls, might be put in place.
Aim of Policy
This policy aims to:
- Nurture and protect the social interaction and development of children and young adults.
- Ensure that devices are used appropriately with respect for individual and social learning.
- Provide direction for the use of personal devices during school hours.
- Protect the privacy of the FIS community members.
Application of Policy
- This policy applies to the use of personal devices by all FIS students.
- Personal devices include mobile phones/smartphones, tablets and laptops, as well as headphones/ear buds.
- Smartwatches may be used only as a regular watch – if they are used for other purposes, the policy applies.
- E-Readers without tablet functionality may be used by students with permission from the Deputy Head or Head of Section.
- Students with specific accommodations to use noise-cancelling headphones may do so. The names and photos of these students are shared with staff.
- This policy refers to the use of devices on the FIS campus within school hours (8:20 – 15:40).
- All staff members are responsible for reinforcing this policy at all times on campus.
Related Policies
This policy aligns with our FIS Values and Community Expectations as well as FIS policies related to safeguarding and with Bavarian school law (BayEUG: Art. 56).
Process
This policy was originally created in 2019. The policy was reviewed in 2022 and further reviewed in 2025. For the most recent review in 2025, input was taken from staff, students and parents in conjunction with the launch of community expectations and responses to not meeting them. The policy was then updated by the Heads of Section in collaboration with the Pastoral Leadership Team.
Publication Information
The most recent policy is published on the Intranet and FIS website from October 2025.
Key Words
device, smartphone, laptop, safeguarding, learning
Policy Statement
Under no circumstances must personal devices be used for any purposes that cause harm to others.
All personal devices brought to the FIS by students are under the responsibility of the owner. The FIS does not take any responsibility for any kind of loss or damage caused by students. Upon confiscation, devices are kept securely and safely.
All personal devices must be set to silent between school hours 8:20 – 15:40. The vibration function should be disabled.
They must not be used for taking photos or videos of anyone without their permission. Photos or videos must not be posted to any forum (e.g. social media) without the explicit permission of the person/people in the photo/video.
Use of personal devices during lessons – whole school
- Up to Grade 3, personal devices are not required for classroom instruction.
- From Grade 4 onwards, students are expected to bring either an iPad or a laptop for lesson use, depending on their grade level. For information on FIS device requirements and grade level expectations, please refer to the FIS e-learning FAQ section on the school website: https://the-fis.de/e-learning/
- Personal devices must not be used during class unless explicitly required by a staff member for educational purposes.
- The use of personal devices for listening to music in class is at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Should the classroom teacher allow students to listen to music, the policy must be followed. If listening to music on a mobile phone, students should put their phones away while they listen.
Use of personal devices outside of lessons – FIS 1 (main school building) & Gym 2.0
- Students may not use personal devices at lunchtime or break or in the corridor in transit from one class to another.
- Mobile phones must be out of sight.
- During lunchtime and at break, students are encouraged to go outside, spend time with their peers, and/or play non-electronic games in designated areas.
- After dismissal at 15:40, students may check their personal devices on the way out of the building.
Use of personal devices outside of lessons – FIS 2
- Students may use personal devices at lunchtime, break, during study periods (Grades 11 and 12) or in the corridor in transit from one class to another.
- Students should self-regulate so that they manage their time appropriately, and so that their device usage does not disturb others or have a detrimental effect on their own time management and workload.
Students not adhering to the device policy
Should a student not adhere to this policy during a lesson:
- If the iPad or laptop required by the school for educational purposes is being misused, the class teacher will manage the situation. This may include:
- Reminding the student of the policy
- Requiring the student to work in such a way that the teacher can always see their screen
- Requiring the student to work without their device
- Requiring the student to place their device on the teacher’s desk for the remainder of the lesson and/or for future lessons
- Personal devices, apart from the iPad or laptop required by the school for educational purposes, will be confiscated and handed to the front office, where it will remain for the remainder of the school day.
Should it be an ongoing issue that a student misuses devices during lessons, the teacher may seek support from the student’s homeroom advisor and Deputy Head of Section, who will work with the student and their parents.
Should a student not adhere to the policy during break, lunchtime or in transit from one class to another:
- The student will be reminded of the policy.
- The student’s device will be confiscated as above.
If a student does not hand in their device after being asked by a staff member, the following procedure applies:
- The staff member notifies the Deputy Head of Section, or in their absence, a designated member of the leadership team.
- The Deputy Head of Section will follow up with the student and confiscate their device, and inform their homeroom advisor and parents.
- The student will have to additionally hand in their device to the front office the following day.
If a student’s device is confiscated more than once in a week, the matter will be referred to the student’s homeroom advisor who will inform their parents. Should this continue to be an issue, the homeroom advisor will collaborate with the Deputy Head of Section who will work with the student and their parents. This may include stricter supportive measures such as a plan to proactively hand in the device at the front office for a set time.