Why
The current guidance isn't working
Only 16% of secondary schools genuinely remove smartphones from the school day. A statutory ban would give every child the benefits of smartphone-free learning.
Removing smartphones from schools gives kids a desperately needed break
Cyberbullying, the threat of being filmed against their wishes and the relentless distraction of addictive-by-design technology.
Removing smartphones from schools helps address inequality
Vulnerable children are more likely to experience online harm so benefit the most from a break; lower-achieving students see the biggest performance gains when smartphones are removed.
“Young people are now under so much pressure to keep up with their shallow network connections and the latest TikTok videos that they have far less time to deeply connect, in a human way, with the children sitting right beside them.”
Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation
It is almost unheard of that a policy that positively impacts so many, costs so little to implement.
Prohibiting smartphones from schools is a cost-free boost to a range of government targets, from productivity, to educational attainment to child welfare.
“Simple-phones-only” policies prevent money being wasted on expensive pouches and lockables, protecting it for teaching, equipment and learning opportunities.
A statutory ban gives every child the benefits of a more focused, calmer learning environment.