PARENTS of children who attend Purfleet's Harris Academy Riverside have expressed concern after being alerted to a potenial new policy banning pupils from having mobile phones on the site of the school on London Road

From the resumption of the new term on 3 September, it appears the school will introduce a complete phone ban,

Previously phones have been allowed, but a message to some parents says: "As from 3rd September we have a new mobile phone policy for students, students are not permitted to have their phone onsite even if it's turned off or on silent!"

The decision follows the departure of principal Andy Betts at the end of the past academic year.

It is not known if the change of rule, which is not detailed on the school's website, is across all Harris Academies, which include Thurrock secondary schools at South Ockendon and Chafford Hundred.

George McMillan, Harris Trust's National Leader of Education and multiple school executive principal

Former Chafford Hundred teacher George McMillan, who has had a high-flying career within Harris where he is described as the Trust's National Leader of Education, executive principal at Ockendon, where the phones change does not yet appear to have been implemented, but is now in the same role at Riverside.

Ockendon's policy on phones, currently says they are permitted on site but must be switched off.  

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The new Riverside policy of no phones at all, replicates the one controversially introduced and enforced at the Mossbourne Federation Trust schools in Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope.

Attendees at those two schools are, in the main, local but pupils at Riverside come from far and wide – with many travelling by public transport including buses.

That may present significant problems as main local service operator Ensign only accepts season school tickets on mobile phone apps and also takes tap and go payments which include discounts. If pupils are forced to use cash, then the overall cost will rise.

Nub News has contacted Mr McMillan and asked for clarification on the new Riverside policy – and if it will be imposed across Harris's other schools.