Our Support for You
As a group of schools we are changing our policy on mobile phones so that children who bring a phone to school will have it looked after by the school during the day.
There’s a growing shift in how families and schools are thinking about smartphones and young people. More and more parents are choosing to delay giving their children smartphones, and schools across the country are reviewing their phone policies to better support learning, mental
health and real-world connection.
We also know that smartphones can have a real impact on learning. A recent study found that students in schools with strong phone restrictions achieved 1–2 levels higher grades at GCSE.
As educators, we see daily how phones affect focus, attention and the ability to be fully present in the classroom, even when they are out of sight.
In our recent trust wide survey, 53% of parents agreed that schools should take action in supporting children to experience a phone free day at school, 18% gave a neutral response and 28% disagreed.
Students themselves are recognising the impact that phones are having on their wellbeing.
Help Is Just a Click Away
Check out this week’s Community update to find more information about the impact of smartphones on our wellbeing. Research shows that stopping or reducing time spent on social media can significantly improve how we feel. For example, studies have found that a one‑week reduction in social media use can lead to measurable decreases in anxiety (around 16%), depression (around 25%), and sleep problems (around 14%).
We are encouraging our whole community to take part in a 7‑day social media detox.
Please visit Community for our tips and guidance on how to support this at home.
