Mobile phone ban at Sheffield school

The ban, introduced at Ecclesfield School after the February half term, means mobile phones cannot be seen within the school grounds, or switched on.

And while it may not suit every setting, deputy headteacher Rachel Sutcliffe has said, it is proving to be the right decision and has already led to changes.

“It was brought in in the hope of removing low-level distractions, freeing up students to concentrate on learning,” she said. “Mobile phones are just another distraction - this was to remove any barriers. We were nervous about it, if I’m honest. But we agreed it was the right thing for our school, and our kids.

“A lot of our children, we were finding, were on social media at break times. They weren’t interacting with one another.

“One of the most beneficial aspects of school is making friends, and interacting with others - something these kids were shying away from. By removing that barrier, it releases them to be kids, to be free from the pressures of social media.”

Earlier this year, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said pupils should be banned from taking smartphones into school, but government policy remains that it is at the discretion of headteachers.

At Ecclesfield, the decision had the backing of parents and allowances were made that students could carry phones for safeguarding reasons when it came to walking to and from school - provided they were switched off on school grounds and out of sight.

“Every school has to assess this in their own context,” Miss Sutcliffe adds. “Mobile phones do have their benefits - technology does have its place in the classroom and for learning. But there is room outside of school for social media. We wanted to create a focus for learning and progress.

“Socially, we have seen improvements, with social skills, communication and friendships. It might not work for every setting but for our school, it’s been the right thing to do.”