Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this message finds you well.
We are writing to inform you of a significant change to our mobile phone policy which will come into effect from September 2025. This decision has been made following careful consideration of the increasing evidence surrounding the negative impact that mobile phones can have on young
people’s focus, wellbeing, and academic progress.
Studies, including those from the Education Endowment Foundation and Ofcom, have shown that mobile phone use during the school day can seriously disrupt concentration, reduce attention spans, and negatively affect academic outcomes. Additionally, we have found that mobile phones often act as a gateway for external social issues to be brought into school, including friendship fallouts, online disputes, and social media distractions — all of which can significantly disrupt learning and relationships during the school day.
In line with several other local schools, we are updating our mobile phone confiscation procedures:
- If a phone is confiscated, it will be stored securely by school staff and returned to the student at the end of the school day on Friday.
- Parents or carers are welcome to collect their child’s phone; phones can be collected from the school office until 4.30pm Monday-Thursday and 4pm on a Friday. Photo ID must be shown when collecting a phone to ensure that it is returned to the correct parent or carer.
We understand that this may feel like a significant shift for some families, but we know that many of you already share our concerns about the impact of mobile phones and social media on the wellbeing of young people. We thank you in advance for your support and cooperation with this
policy — it is a key part of our commitment to promoting a safe, focused, and calm learning environment.
We also want to draw your attention to a growing national movement: Smartphone-Free Childhood.
This campaign encourages parents to consider delaying smartphone use and to think critically about the role smartphones and social media play in children’s lives. As a school, we are fully supportive of this movement and we encourage all parents to explore the website and, if appropriate, to sign the pledge.
We are committed to ensuring that all our students have the opportunity to learn effectively, build strong social skills, and thrive in an environment where their attention is not constantly pulled away by screens and notifications. Reducing mobile phone use is a key part of that vision.
Thank you again for your ongoing support.
Yours sincerely
Mark Bedford
Headteacher
