In other schools it may be a tone, siren, electronic bell sound, a series of chimes, or music played over a PA system.
[2] Schools for the hearing impaired use alternative signaling methods, for example sign language from the teacher and lights that illuminate when the public address/bell is sounding.
[3] In October 2010, Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland, took the move to turn off their school bell system, following criticism that the school bells agitated pupils.
It was hoped that pupils would take more responsibility for ensuring they arrived on time to lessons.
Hand claps were then used as an alternative way of signaling that a class was beginning or ending.