One of England`s biggest school academy trusts to ban phone use

One of England’s largest school academy trusts, Ormiston Academies Trust, is implementing a ban on mobile phone use during the school day for approximately 35,000 students across its 42 schools. The decision is part of a phased initiative aimed at enhancing learning, improving behavior, and addressing concerns over mental health, which the trust believes are negatively impacted by smartphone use. The UK Department for Education, earlier this year, empowered school leaders to enforce mobile phone bans during the school day. This aligns with Ormiston’s policy, which will apply to its network of primary and secondary schools spread from Cheshire to the Isle of Wight. Eight secondary schools in the trust have already piloted different approaches this autumn term, and feedback from parents and students has been overwhelmingly positive, with some schools already going entirely phone-free.

Tom Rees, the CEO of Ormiston, emphasized the disruption smartphones cause to both learning and student wellbeing, noting a “clear correlation” between phone usage and mental health concerns. He added that the trust is giving individual schools the flexibility to implement the ban at their own pace, ensuring community support throughout the process. This move is not unique to Ormiston Academies Trust. Lift Schools, another multi-academy trust, has implemented a no-smartphone policy across all of its 57 schools, using pouches to securely lock phones away during the school day. Many schools across the UK have adopted similar measures to minimize distractions and foster a more focused learning environment.

Behavior advisor Tom Bennett has publicly endorsed phone bans, calling smartphones “attention hoovers” that detract from classroom productivity. He advocates for stronger enforcement, suggesting a blanket ban would remove peer pressure and help students adjust. In February, the Department for Education released new guidelines to curb phone usage in schools, with the possibility of making such bans a statutory requirement under discussion. As concerns over children’s online safety grow, some MPs have suggested banning smartphones for under-16s, citing serious risks. While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed reservations about an outright ban, he acknowledges the importance of addressing these risks. Meanwhile, the UK is closely watching Australia's plan to introduce a social media ban for under-16s, as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard children in the digital age. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages