One of England’s largest school academy trusts, Ormiston Academies Trust, has announced plans to ban smartphones during the school day across its 42 state schools.
The decision, affecting approximately 35,000 students, is being rolled out in phases, with the aim of reducing distractions, improving learning, and addressing concerns over children’s mental health.
The trust, which oversees six primary schools and 32 secondary schools, has already begun piloting the ban in some of its institutions.
A spokesperson for Ormiston Academies Trust confirmed that the initiative has received positive feedback from both parents and students during its trial phase, with one secondary school already going entirely phone-free.
“Teaching and learning, behaviour, and children’s mental health are all impacted negatively by mobile phones,” the trust’s spokesperson told the BBC.
The spokesperson emphasized that the ban aligns with the trust’s commitment to improving student outcomes and wellbeing. The policy follows consultations with parents and students, allowing schools to implement the measures at their own pace.
A Growing National Movement
Ormiston’s decision mirrors a growing trend among schools across England to restrict smartphone use during the school day.
Earlier this year, the Department for Education under the previous Conservative government updated its guidance, empowering school leaders to ban phones on school premises. The aim was to minimise classroom disruptions and improve behaviour.
Lift Schools, another multi-academy trust, has already implemented a no-smartphone policy across all of its 57 schools. The trust uses lockable pouches that prevent students from accessing their phones from the start to the end of the school day.
Lift Schools reported similar success with the policy, stating that it allows students to better focus on their education.
Tom Bennett, behaviour advisor for the Department for Education, has been a vocal advocate for banning smartphones in schools.
During an interview with BBC Breakfast, he referred to phones as “attention hoovers” that distract students from their studies. He argued that schools without strict enforcement of similar policies are missing out on opportunities to improve learning environments.
“The smartest thing a school can do is ban smartphones,” Bennett said, advocating for a nationwide blanket ban to relieve peer pressure and help students adapt to the policy.
He suggested that the government should go beyond its current advisory stance and make it a statutory requirement for schools to ban phones, except in cases where headteachers deem them necessary.
Correlation Between Smartphones and Mental Health Concerns
Tom Rees, chief executive of Ormiston Academies Trust, has underscored the detrimental impact of smartphones on students’ mental health and learning.
In an interview with The Guardian, Rees highlighted a “clear correlation” between phone use and concerns about mental health among young people.
He argued that excessive phone use during school hours exacerbates stress and anxiety, detracting from students’ ability to engage fully in lessons.
Rees’s comments reflect broader societal concerns about the effect of digital devices on children and adolescents.
While smartphones offer access to valuable resources and social connection, they also present challenges related to social media pressure, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.
The UK government has taken note of these risks, with a committee of MPs in May proposing a potential ban on smartphones for under-16s, citing “serious dangers” posed to children online.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, however, has been cautious about a blanket ban, stating that while there are “serious questions” about what children can access online, simply banning phones for under-16s may not be the solution.
International Attention on Social Media and Phone Bans
The debate over smartphone use in schools is not limited to the UK. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle recently revealed that the government is closely monitoring Australia’s upcoming legislation to ban social media for all under-16s.
The Australian government has committed to introducing this legislation within the year, hoping to address the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health and privacy.
Kyle’s interest in Australia’s policy reflects a growing global awareness of the potential harm caused by unrestricted access to digital platforms. Should Australia’s ban prove effective, it may influence future UK policies on phone and social media use among minors.
A Positive Reception
Despite the broader debates, Ormiston Academies Trust remains focused on the local impact of its smartphone ban.
The trust has granted its schools flexibility in implementing the policy, allowing for a phased approach that takes into account the specific needs of each school community.
The spokesperson emphasized that the decision-making process was informed by consultations with parents and students, ensuring that the policy would have widespread support.
“The feedback we’ve received so far has been overwhelmingly positive,” the spokesperson said. “We want schools to do this at their pace – they are best placed to make the decisions because they know their schools best, and because we want them to take their parent and pupil communities with them.”
As more schools across England consider similar measures, the conversation around smartphones in schools is likely to continue evolving.
The success of Ormiston’s policy, as well as that of other trusts like Lift Schools, may pave the way for more widespread changes to how mobile phones are managed in educational settings.
For now, Ormiston Academies Trust is leading the charge, aiming to create healthier, more focused learning environments for its students by removing the distractions that smartphones can bring.
