September 3rd 2024.
A group of schools in South London have come together to address the growing concern of smartphone addiction among their students. As almost two-thirds of parents expressed their desire for schools to take action in banning smartphones, the headteachers at secondary schools in Southwark have decided to collectively implement a ban during school hours. This decision was made with the intention of educating students about the negative effects of excessive smartphone usage.
Out of the 20 state schools in the area, 17 have committed to enforcing the ban, while the remaining three are in the process of implementing a similar policy. This move comes as students return to classrooms for the new school year and are faced with updated guidelines from the Department for Education regarding mobile phone use in schools. The Fulham Boys School in London is leading the way by becoming the first state school in the country to introduce a complete smartphone ban from September, opting for a 'brick' phone-only policy for students aged 11 to 16.
The headmaster, David Smith, made this decision after conducting an internal survey among his 800 students to understand the impact of smartphone use and social media apps. The results showed that the majority of students received more than 50 notifications or messages per day, with some receiving over 200. This alarming finding prompted Mr. Smith to prioritize the well-being of his students over academic results.
To address this issue, Mr. Smith has joined forces with the Better Phone Project by Human Mobile Devices, a mobile phone developer, to create a 'better phone' that serves as a compromise between a smartphone and a 'brick' phone. This collaboration aims to tackle the concerns surrounding children's use of smartphones and find a solution that benefits their overall well-being.
The full list of schools that have committed to implementing a smartphone ban includes Ark All Saints Academy, Ark Globe Academy, Ark Walworth Academy, Bacon's College, The Charter School East Dulwich, The Charter School North Dulwich, City of London Academy Southwark, Compass School Southwark, Haberdashers' Aske's Borough Academy, Harris Academy Bermondsey, Harris Academy Peckham, Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich, Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich, Kingsdale Foundation School, Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls' School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, St. Michael's Catholic College, St. Saviour's and St. Olave's Church of England School, St. Thomas the Apostle College, and University Academy of Engineering South Bank. Eton College has also joined in banning smartphones and has opted to provide students with basic devices instead.
The Fulham Boys School has informed the families of incoming students about the new policy, which will take effect in September. Mr. Smith clarified that the ban is not a result of being anti-technology, but rather a means to address the addictive nature of smartphones and social media apps, which have a negative impact on young people. He also believes that smartphones should only be handed to 16-year-olds, as they are more capable of handling the devices.
The schools have agreed to confiscate any smartphones used by students during school hours, with traditional mobile phones being returned relatively quickly. However, if the phone is a smartphone, it could remain confiscated for up to a week or until parents collect it themselves. According to a recent government report, nearly 25% of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioral addiction.
Mike Baxter, headteacher of the City of London Academy, stated that the decision to collaborate with other schools was prompted by witnessing the negative impact of smartphones and social media on their students' well-being and education. He also pointed out that while these issues typically occur outside of school hours, they are often exposed during school hours.
Eton's deputy head, Mike Grenier, has also taken steps to address smartphone addiction by banning new pupils from bringing smartphones to school and issuing them basic devices instead. Grenier stated that this change was decided upon after being trialed in boarding houses and acknowledges that while smartphones offer many benefits, they also pose challenges and potential areas of concern, including the impact on mental and physical health.
According to a survey conducted by HMD, 61% of UK parents expressed concern about their child's phone use and the content they were accessing during summer holiday break. Additionally, 74% of parents were aware of their child using their phone more during the break compared to term time, with 75% stating that social media apps place their child under too much pressure and impact their mental health.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
