A smartphone-free school to help pupils to flourish

At Berkhamsted School, we are committed to pupils’ flourishing. I am therefore writing to (re-)communicate with parents about the fact that we are a smartphone-free school. Last year, we formed a staff working party (including Dr Emily Kenefick, the school psychologist) to consider our approach to smartphones, we formed a parent focus group, and we consulted Professor Sarah-Jane Blakemore, an eminent neuroscientist at the Cambridge University, a world expert on the development of the teenage brain, and a former governor of the school. Professor Blakemore was clear that pupils’ not having any access to smartphones in early adolescence was in their best long-term interests. It is also worth noting that Berkhamsted School had the most parents in the country signed up to the smartphone-free childhood movement as reported in both the Times and the Guardian.

Further to our research and our collaboration with parents, we made a decision not to allow pupils in Year 7 from September 2025 to bring a smartphone onto the school sites and to advise parents not to provide a smartphone for their child at this age. The research about the significant possibility of adolescents’ developing unhealthy, possibly even addictive, habits around social media and smartphone use played a significant role in our decision-making process. The smartphone-free routine will follow the pupils until (at least) the end of Year 9.

For the sake of clarity, we will not allow any pupil in Year 7 to have a phone with a camera.

· FAQs – please see a list of frequently-asked questions here.

· Previous communication – please see the communication that was sent to parents in June 2024 here.

· Research – please see a summary of data from Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, here, for research by the London School of Economics here and government recommendations here and here. Parents may also be interested in the smartphone-free movement here. · Documentary – please click here to see a Channel 4 documentary on this theme.

We recognise that smartphones can bring advantages, but strongly believe that the disadvantages of pupils’ having a smartphone significantly outweigh the advantages and can be detrimental to their wellbeing, socialisation, and health.

If you have any questions that are not answered in the FAQ document, you will have the chance to ask about our approach to phones at the New Boys and New Girls Parents’ Evenings on 23 and 24 April respectively.

Best wishes,

Martin Walker

Vice Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our commitment to you

We are committed to taking any report of harmful sexual behaviour seriously, to listening to victims and to supporting them. We will respond in a proportionate and fair way and will take your wishes into account. The School also has legal responsibilities which must be considered. These are explained below in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Please note that further information on the references in italics in the answers can be found in the links within the final box. 

Your questions answered

Why has the school made this decision?

· To keep children safe

· To maximise the prospects of children being well and doing well

· To increase face-to-face socialisation between pupils

· Because it is what the vast majority of parents said they wanted the school to do

· To make it easier for parents to say no to requests to smartphones which start “but all my friends have one”

· Because we act on the research of psychologists, the government and academics who recommend this approach (see the work of Jonathan Haidt in The Anxious Generation, click here for a summary of data from his book, here for research by the London School of Economics and here and here for government recommendations. Parents may also be interested in the smartphone-free movement here.

What is the long-term aim of the school?

· To enable pupils to flourish both at school and beyond.

· To protect children against the possibility of developing an addiction at the age at which they are most susceptible to this happening.

· To help pupils to develop confidence, self-esteem and self-regulation.

· To take a graduated approach to the use of phones appropriate to the age and stage of the pupils’ lives. For example, Sixth Formers have greater autonomy as we prepare them for university / degree apprenticeships when they will have complete freedom of choice.

What is the school defining as a smartphone?

Any phone that has a camera and/or access to the internet/social media will not be allowed on the school sites.

What types of phones are allowed?

· It is important to buy a SIM card that has no data roaming and that only allows for phone calls and texts so children cannot access the internet.

· Non-internet-enabled phones with no camera are all allowed. · Alternatives to smart phones – see here, simple phones from the smartphone-free childhood, but please note some phones on these sites have cameras which are not allowed in school.

· It is possible to get a talk-and-text plan only e.g. from Asda or see Parent Shield (the Child-Safe Mobile Network). Parent Shield sells SIM cards to parents so they can decide how many texts calls their children can make but have unlimited calls to two home numbers.

  • Examples of two phones available to purchase that do not have cameras are detailed below:
What are the rules?

· From September 2025, pupils in Y7 will not be allowed to bring a smartphone onto the school site and parents are advised not to buy their child a smartphone. This smartphone-free routine will follow the pupils up through the school until at least the end of Year 9 (when all pupils are likely to be 14). · Pupils in Y7-11 are not allowed to use a phone during school hours in school until the 6th Form.

· Pupils in Y7-11 have to lock phones in a Yondr pouch at 08:25

· From September 2026, Y7 & 8 will not be allowed to bring a smartphone onto the school site.

· From September 2027, Y7, 8 & 9 will not be allowed to bring a smartphone onto the school site.

Do non-smartphones have to be locked away in Yondr pouches in the senior schools? If so, why?

Yes, because non-smartphones can still detract from pupils learning, face-to-face socialisation and making the most of the holistic educational opportunities.

How will the school enforce this policy?

Staff supervise pupils putting their phones in Yondr pouches in the mornings. They will check that Year 7 pupils do not have a phone with a camera. Pupils can unlock the Yondr pouches at the end of the day (there is no access to the Yondr key points during the day). Random checks also take place from time to time. Sanctions and restorative/educational approaches are used for those who do not follow the rules. Repeatedly not following the rules would lead to sanctions escalating.

What if my child needs to contact me during the day?

They can send an email in breaktime or lunchtime or they can go to reception and ask to make a phone call. We encourage pupils to develop their independence and not to contact their parent during the school day unless there is an emergency. We are good at supporting pupils and enabling them to solve their problems or to ask us for help.

Are there any exceptions to the policy?

Yes, there are exceptions for certain medical conditions e.g. a diabetic pupil who monitors blood glucose levels via their smartphone. If you have grounds to ask for an exception to be made, please contact the relevant Headteacher. Parents will understand that there is a legal duty for schools to make reasonable adjustments for diagnosed medical conditions.

How will this policy benefit my child?

· It will protect children from the significant harm that can be caused by smartphones and social media.

· The research shows that they will be more likely to socialise with other pupils and therefore to develop stronger interpersonal skills.

· Their concentration will be better.

· They are more likely to achieve higher grades (than they would if they had free access to their phone).

· They are more likely to make the most of the extra-curricular opportunities.

· They are more likely to flourish!

If smartphones are banned, how will my child develop technological skills?

We are an innovative school when it comes to IT and the pupils develop very strong skills through the use of devices and the curriculum. The recent ISI inspection found that “the use of ICT in teaching and learning is a significant strength of the school.”

What should I do if my child already has a smartphone and I am concerned about how much they use it?

Firstly, it is important to acknowledge how difficult and common this issue it. It may be a good idea to show them the research on the harm that can be caused and discuss it with them. It can be a good idea to agree healthy boundaries together and consequences if they are broken. It is particularly important that children do not have phones in their bedrooms overnight because this can lead to sleep deprivation which can have a profoundly negative impact upon (mental) health. It can also impact on the quality of sleep that children get. Many psychologists advise that children should leave their phones downstairs and not use them for one hour before bedtime. For younger children, we would advise parents to replace smartphones with non-smartphones or to heavily restrict both the time that children can spend on the smartphone and the sites and apps that can be accessed. It is worth noting that social media apps can have a very negative impact on children’s development and that children can end up accessing unsuitable sites (e.g. those that contain pornography, information, even advice, on self-harm, eating disorders and suicide).

As adults, we have a responsibility to protect children from such harms and it is worth considering that the most significant risk of harm to children is probably now in the digital world. You may find this article by Kate Silverton useful – see here.

I’ve tried to remove/reduce my child’s access to a smartphone but it led to such upset and big arguments that I am not sure it is worth it. What should I do?

This is certainly not easy and no parent likes to be in conflict with their child and to see them upset. It is worth keeping the long-term aim in mind and remembering that putting boundaries in place is a way of showing your care and love. Come back to the reasons for your actions and persevere whilst empathising with your child’s feelings. Our belief is that it will be worth it in the end and your child will be grateful one day – we know this from feedback from 6th Formers.

Does the school help to educate the children about the dangers of smartphone use and social media?

Yes, this is a part of the personal development programme, tutor group sessions, and assemblies which are designed to enable the pupils to make healthy choices. We also use 6th Form role models and young Old Berkhamstedians to deliver messages about healthy choices and the risks of smartphones and social media. We are aware that messages from young adults can be more impactful than those from teachers, school leaders, and even parents.

How will the school handle emergencies if pupils don’t have their phones?

In the same way such emergencies were handled before smartphones – parents can call the reception and we will find the relevant child or pass on a message. Pupils can make calls to parents from reception if necessary. Pupils can also email their parents from their school device.

My older child has had a smartphone since the age of 11 or before. Isn’t it unfair on my younger child for them not to have a smartphone at the same age?

We certainly empathise with the challenges presented by providing phones at different ages. Nonetheless, there is now much more evidence of the harm that smartphones cause to early adolescents; it is only the right that our systems and decisions evolve on the basis of such research and that we make decisions in the best interests of the children, even if comparisons with older siblings make this more difficult. Whilst it is not easy to hold a firm line on this and many children will challenge their parents over it, it is a sign of love and care for them in the knowledge that it is likely to help them to thrive in the long term.

What if my child needs their smartphone for a specific reason during school hours?

They can’t have it unless prior permission has been granted (see exceptions to the rules).

How will I be able to track my child if their phone is switched off or they do not have access to a smartphone?

We don’t believe it is necessary to track pupils at all times but there are alternative ways of tracking a child for parents who would like to do this e.g. tracking tags. Jonathan Haidt argues that tracking a child is inadvisable as it can lead to increased anxiety and reduced risk-taking and therefore resilience.

I have heard that a smartphone is required to travel on a school coach?

· Older pupils do use smartphones to register on the coach, but we intend to provide keyrings with a QR code for younger pupils to register on the coach. These will be provided to the relevant pupils as part of the induction process.

· Parents can manage coach bookings for their child through the app or online. Pupils can also book and view their travel arrangements through a link on the pupil portal on their school-issued Microsoft device. Please contact Mr Gillman, the Head of Estates Services, for further information (agillman@berkhamsted.com).

What are the rules for residential school trips?

· Year 7 pupils will not be allowed smartphones on the school trip.

· For older pupils, the trip leader will set the rules for residential trips and will explain these clearly before the trip. It may be that phones are not allowed, that they are allowed only at certain times, or (for Sixth Formers) that they are allowed to have their phones throughout the trip.

What if I need to contact my child during a residential trip and they don’t have their phone?

If there is an emergency, you can contact an allocated member of Berkhamsted staff who will arrange for you to speak with your child as soon as possible.

How did pupils adapt to having to use Yondr pouches in September 2024?

Pupils adapted very quickly and found that they were able to concentrate much better. There were fewer disciplinary incidents involving the use of phones during school and we noticed pupils spending much more time socialising face to face with each other. Younger pupils started to play tag and other traditional children’s games around the school and pupils started to play more table tennis, football and cricket around the quad.

Has the school also consulted pupils on this?

Yes, we spoke with senior pupils about this before making the decision; we regularly invite some pupils to the Safeguarding Committee meeting to get an insight into what they are concerned about and the most recent trends that could be harmful to pupils.

Where can I find more information about the policy or further reading?

· The School’s Behaviour and Discipline Policy contains the school’s rules on phones under appendix 7 (please see here for information – this policy will be updated on the school website to reflect the changes from September 2025).

· There are more FAQs on the delay smartphones website here.

I don’t think the school should be telling me what decisions to make in my own house. Isn’t that up to us as parents?

· We entirely respect parents’ right to make decisions about what happens in their homes. We are only advising parents not to buy their children a smartphone until the age of 14 based on our experience, on research and on our collaboration with parents on this topic. Our hope is that by providing a collective basis for our pupils not to have smartphones, we may be able both to negate the appeal to parents which starts “but all my friends have got one”, and to allow parents to blame the school if necessary for their decision not to provide a smartphone before the age of 14. Of course, parents can still provide their child with a smartphone for use at home if they wish to do so.

My child uses their smartphone to look at train timetables – how will they be able to do this without a smartphone?

It is possible to get up-to-date train information by calling National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.

Why don’t we allow an un-internet-enabled smart phone? For example, why can’t I give my child an old smartphone to use that has no access to the internet and no apps?

Because this policy must be easily enforceable for staff for it to be effective.

Why can’t my child have a non-smartphone with a camera?

The research shows that cameras are a significant part of the problem and can lead pupils to make decisions which they later regret.

Who can I contact for more information or to discuss specific concerns?

Please feel free to write to Mr Hockedy (thockedy@berkhamsted.com) if your child is entering the Boys School or Ms Watson (ewatson@berkhamsted.com) for the Girls School.

Can my child use their non-smartphone on the school coach service?

Yes, pupils will be able to unlock their Yondr pouches at the end of the school day before getting on the school coach. They will therefore be able to use their non-smartphones on the school coach if they wish/need to do so.

Are the rules the same for the older year groups as well?

No, we have introduced the non-smartphone rule for pupil who are joining Year 7 in September 2025. The older pupils are allowed to have a smartphone, but until 6th form pupils must keep their phones in their Yondr pouch during the school day from 8:30 – 4:20.

Will my child be allowed a smartphone at school in Year 8 from September 2026?

No, at the moment the intention is for the rule to follow the 2025 cohort of Y7 pupils up the school until the end of Year 9 when pupils will be 14 years old. We are, however, committed to reviewing our approach as technology changes.