Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is supporting the approach to make phone-free schools the default. This follows the Commissioner’s visit to The Winston Churchill School in Woking that has introduced a self-funded scheme where secure lockable pouches for student phones are standard practice.
The 1500 students at the mixed secondary school for 11- to 16-year-olds keep their phones with them, secured in a Yondr pouch, which is locked on arrival and unlocked at the end of the school day, by tapping the pouch on an unlocking base.
Clear physical boundary
This creates a clear physical boundary that removes distraction without requiring constant enforcement by staff.
Lisa watched students taking responsibility for performing the ‘pouching up’ process at the start of the school day and spoke with members of the Senior Leadership Team and School Council students about the positive impact on learning outcomes, behaviour and student wellbeing.
On June 29th, the use of mobile phones in state schools in England will transition from non-statutory guidance to a mandatory legal requirement under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
“Diverting attention”
Lisa said: “We have understood for a while that mobile phones in schools disrupt learning by diverting attention, increasing anxiety and generating peer conflict.
“Most schools have an advised mobile phone policy but are challenged with the day-to- day enforcement. This scheme at The Winston Churchill School puts paid to that in a slick and simple way.”
James French, deputy headteacher at The Winston Churchill School said: “As a result of the scheme, we have seen more than a 50% reduction in phone related behaviour incidents throughout the school.
“Children have told us they feel more confident in the school without fear of being filmed or humiliated and relationships between students have improved and strengthened. Teachers report that students are more focused, and more lesson time is spent on learning without the distraction of mobile phones. It has been transformational.”
Positive step
Lisa adds: “The group of students that I met unanimously agreed that the mandatory phone pouch policy at school was a positive step and the right way forward.
“Implementing a clear policy to prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day including lunch and break times significantly reduces cyberbullying and online harm cases that can escalate to police involvement.
“Other schools adopting the scheme have reported up to an 80% decrease in safeguarding incidents after going phone-free.
“Phone thefts and low-level incidents of anti-social behaviour are significantly reduced. A calmer, more focused school environment leads to a marked improvement in peer relationships and a more harmonious and productive school culture.
“This adds up to a wider, more joined-up preventative approach that steers young people away from crime.”