Fed-up headteacher banned from jamming phone signal at her school because it is ILLEGAL and could disrupt locals
Julia Polley threatened to buy technology to disrupt the local 4G network after claiming Facebook was disrupting lessons
A HEADTEACHER fed up with pupils using social media in school has been blocked from jamming their signal.
Julia Polley threatened to buy technology to disrupt the local 4G network, but backed down after being told that was illegal.
Her tough approach followed a serious fall-out between a group of Year 11 girls who had been using their phones to make inappropriate posts on Facebook and other social media during lessons.
The year group are preparing for their GCSEs and Ms Polley said they needed to “come into school feeling safe and concentrate on the next 13 weeks of study and revision”.
In a letter to parents, she added: “I have now invested in some technology which will block 4G signals on the school site and I have improved the filters on the wifi to further restrict some sites.
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"I will take much stronger exclusion action on any further unnecessary ‘social’ fall-outs which impact on school life and ask you to support us by monitoring mobile phone usage at home.”
But the head of Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College, in Leyburn, North Yorks, has been forced to back down after being told phone jammers are illegal.
The devices — which make it impossible for handsets to make or receive calls, send messages or use internet — would affect other users.
They could also disrupt emergency and rescue radio services in the area.
Ofcom says it is a criminal offence to use any apparatus to deliberately interfere with radio communications, and offenders face prison or fines.
North Yorkshire County Council said it helped Wensleydale School to explore its available options.
A spokesman added: “As a result the school took the precaution of closing down the guest wifi, which has greater access to social media sites.”