Two secondary campuses in the Scottish capital will adopt a new programme delivered by a US-based firm.
Queensferry High School and Portobello High School will be the first in the country to implement a new scheme from American tech provider Yondr. Students will be asked to lock their phones away in a pouch during school hours, with devices returned at the end of each day.
The programme will be supported by education on why the system is being used and the core benefits. Policy researchers Public First have already presented findings which back up the move, with strong advocacy among parents. A key advantage is the fact there is no confiscation, and students keep physical possession of their devices.
According to the organisation, eight-in-10 Britons with children at senior school level want to see this type of policy implemented, with 62% believing this would have a beneficial impact on pupil focus. Around 70% of teachers are also on-side, and 72% have identified phones as a significant problem in the classroom. Almost half claim their lessons have been disrupted by mobiles at some point.
Already used by millions of students globally, this will be the first time the Yondr programme has been rolled out in Britain. It follows a statement by Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza which promoted head teachers making individual decisions about such a policy, rather than a national requirement. She also reiterated the need for parents to limit screen time at home in order to combat some of the ill effects of constant use.
‘We are thrilled to partner with Edinburgh City Council to help create phone-free schools, where pupils can truly engage in their education without the distractions of mobile devices,’ said Lizzie Hacking, Director of External Affairs at Yondr.
‘At Yondr, we believe that phone-free spaces are essential for fostering focused learning and meaningful personal interactions – especially for young learners,’ they added. ‘The pilot will run for the full academic year, with Edinburgh City Council monitoring its impact on learning, behaviour and student wellbeing.’
Image: Paul Hanaoka / Unsplash
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