More than 30 primary and secondary schools in Waltham Forest will ban smartphones from September over concerns about mental health.
The ban will apply to primary school pupils and those starting secondary school in Year 7 across 34 schools. Five secondaries will be affected alongside 29 primaries.
Pupils will not be able to bring smartphones into school and parents have been advised to give their children phones without internet access, otherwise known as ‘dumbphones’ or ‘brick phones’.
The Department for Education expects schools to restrict pupils’ access to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, between lessons, and at breaktimes and lunchtime.
Announcing the scheme, Waltham Forest Council said: “Smartphone use by young people has been linked to multiple mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, as well as increased loneliness and social isolation.
“Studies have also shown it can also exacerbate sleep deprivation, online bullying, exposure to inappropriate content and people, and the risk of mugging.
“Allowing schools to be a space free of smartphones encourages children and young people to prioritise in-person interactions, which will help them develop empathy, strengthen social skills and secure healthy real-world connections.”
The move is part of efforts to reduce screentime among young people.
On Thursday new Government advice was issued for parents to limit screen time for children under five to no more than an hour a day.
Screen time for children under two should be avoided other than for shared activities encouraging interaction, families will also be advised.
It comes as the Government is also considering Australia-style measures to limit or ban social media for under-16s.
The four secondary schools involved in the smarphone ban scheme in Waltham Forest are Buxton School, Frederick Bremer, Heathcote School, Holy Family Catholic School & Sixth Form, and Walthamstow School for Girls.
The full list of primary schools taking part in the scheme is:
- Ainslie Wood Primary School,
- Chapel End Infant School and Early Years,
- Chase Lane Primary School,
- Chingford Church of England Primary School,
- Coppermill Primary School,
- Davies Lane,
- Downsell Primary School,
- Edinburgh Primary School,
- George Tomlinson Primary,
- Greenleaf Primary School,
- Gwyn Jones Primary,
- Handsworth Primary School,
- Henry Maynard Primary,
- Hillyfield Primary Academy,
- Lime Academy Larkswood,
- Longshaw Primary,
- Mayville Academy,
- Mission Grove Primary,
- Our Lady & St George’s Catholic Primary School,
- Parkside Primary School,
- Selwyn Primary,
- South Grove Primary School,
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School,
- St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary,
- Stoneydown Park Primary School,
- The Jenny Hammond Primary School,
- The Winns,
- Whitehall Primary,
- Woodford Green Primary,
