The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August 2026 issue. - Magazine - Page 10
Phone bans vs phone-free schools:
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
At Bett UK 2026, the Arena hosted a powerful
discussion on one of the most pressing
challenges facing modern education: the
role of smartphones in schools. The session,
“Phone bans vs phone-free schools: What’s
the difference?”, brought together former
schools minister Sir Nick Gibb, Yondr founder
Graham Dugoni, and head teacher Emma
Mills, with moderation from Tes international
editor Dan Worth.
The panel quickly established a crucial
distinction: banning phones is not the same
as creating a truly phone-free environment.
Sir Nick Gibb explained that traditional bans,
where students are simply expected to keep
phones out of sight in their bags, often fail
in practice. These policies place enormous
pressure on young people to resist the pull
of their devices throughout the day and
inevitably create tension and conflict between
students and teachers.
Emma Mills shared how this played out in
her own school. Under their previous “out
of sight” policy, students were rarely fully
present in lessons. Instead, many spent
their time thinking about their phones,
slipping away to corridors or toilets to check
notifications.
Determined to change this culture, Mills led
a transformation at Birchwood Community
High School, turning it into a fully phone-free
environment. Each morning, students secure
their phones in lockable Yondr pouches at the
school gate.
The pouch stays with them throughout the
day and is only unlocked ten minutes before
the final bell.
The impact has been dramatic.
Since introducing the system, the school has
recorded an 81% reduction in phone-related
safeguarding incidents and a 94% drop in
behaviour issues. Academic outcomes have
also improved significantly. The school’s
English and Maths “basics” measure rose
by 17% in just one year, while disadvantaged
pupils saw a 17.1-point increase in their
Attainment 8 scores.
Although the initial rollout cost £17,500,
Mills described it as the best decision she
has made as a head teacher. In practice, the
policy has saved time and money because
it dramatically reduces the staff hours
previously spent managing phone-related
behaviour and safeguarding concerns.
Perhaps most striking has been the students’
response.
A few weeks after the policy launched, a group
of Year 10 girls approached Mills to thank her.
They explained that a “massive pressure had
been lifted”. Without constant group chats
and notifications, they finally felt able to focus
on school and friendships in a healthier way.
For Yondr founder Graham Dugoni, this
outcome reflects a deeper purpose behind
phone-free policies. After 12 years working
with schools, he argues that removing
phones during the school day is not about
punishment.
It is about giving children their time and
attention back.
Without the constant impulse to check their
devices, students gain an uninterrupted eighthour window to build healthier neural habits,
practise real-world communication, And
develop social skills such as eye contact and
conversation. These abilities are increasingly
vital for the workplace.
