Canterbury pupils say smart phone ban experiment helped them concentrate better
Year 10 students at The Canterbury Academy Trust handed in their phones last week as part of a new research project
Last updated 7th Jul 2025
Pupils from a school in Kent, that gave up their smartphones for a week, have told us they now concentrate better in the classroom and at home.
Year 10 students at The Canterbury Academy Trust handed in their phones last week and will be getting them back today.
Instead, pupils have been given a basic Nokia phone for the week, which has number on it but no access to social media.
It's part a research project by the University of Kent.
Holly is one of the pupils taking part. She told us she believes she now does work more quickly, she said:
"When I get home I don't go straight on my phone. I now interact with my family, get my homework done sooner and everything is just sorted quicker, and not getting distracted and everything taking hours."
Demi also believes it's had a positive impact, she said:
"I feel like I'm going to be less bothered with notifications, knowing I don't have to answer them straight away.
"I think I might start leaving it at home when I go out with my family and it will be less of a distraction when I'm talking to people."