Phone-Free School

(video)

Key Documents

This document was compiled with the support of our Parent and Carer Working Group and responds to the concerns and questions that were raised during our consultation process

Our Behaviour Policy has been updated to reflect our phone-free approach.  This document explains the purpose of this approach and how it works in practice.

Why are we a truly Phone-Free School?

Current research suggests that young people are spending an increasing amount of time on screens and mobile devices, and the Department for Education has linked this to a range of challenges, such as higher levels of anxiety, self-esteem issues, social and behavioural development, and lower levels of attention.

Students should not be using their phones in the classroom, but even as adults we are all too familiar with the temptation of checking our phones when we receive a notification. This distraction is increasingly common, and can have a detrimental effect on students’ learning, concentration, social skills, mental health and wellbeing. 

Based on feedback from our students and parents, we know that being phone-free is supporting our students’ mental health, wellbeing, social skills, learning and concentration.  We guarantee each student at least six phone-free hours each school day.

How does this approach work?

We have worked closely with our students, our Parent and Carer Working Group, our staff and Academy Council, to explore ways we can implement a phone-free system to help our students.  We have introduced the HuSH phone pouch system for all students.

Students are asked to use their pouches as follows:

1. When students arrive at school, they are asked to turn off their phones, place their phones (inc. smart watches and earphones) inside their pouch, and lock it.
2. Members of staff greet students, and students quickly show our staff that their pouch has been locked.
3. During the school day, except for in emergencies or exceptional circumstances, the pouches remain locked, meaning it is not be possible for students to be tempted by the distractions and notifications from the phone – creating a truly phone-free experience for our students.
4. Parents / carers should contact the school office if they need to contact their child or make alternative urgent arrangements during the school day.
5. As students leave school, they quickly tap their pouch at one of the many unlocking devices and are able to take their phone and other smart devices out of the pouch and use them.
6. Members of staff at our Reception or House Offices will be able to unlock the pouches at other times during the day under exceptional circumstances.

Students who do not cooperate with this approach will have their phone or device confiscated for 7 days.  Parents/carers may request that the SIM card be returned.  We also offer to lend a brick phone for the duration of the confiscation.

Our approach to being a truly phone-free school has been designed with reference to the following Department for Education and UK Government documents and statutory guidance: 

·         Mobile phones in schools (February 2026)

·         Searching, Screening and Confiscation (July 2022)

·         Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2025)

·         Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years: Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities (January 2015)

·         Prevent Duty Guidance: England and Wales (2023)