Northamptonshire schools getting closer to smartphone ban
Schools in Northamptonshire may soon move closer to banning smartphones as concerns grow about how constant device use affects children’s wellbeing, concentration and safety.
The idea is being encouraged by the national pressure group Smartphone Free Childhood, which is asking councils and schools across the country to restrict smart devices during the school day.
Smartphone Free Childhood is a rapidly growing organisation made up of parents, teachers and child-development supporters.
The group says that smartphones can distract pupils in lessons, increase anxiety and social pressure, contribute to cyber-bullying and expose children to harmful online content.
It also warns that high screen time can affect sleep and social development. The campaign stresses that it is not opposed to technology but wants children to have clearer boundaries around their phone use, especially in school.
The group often recommends that if pupils need a phone for safety, they should carry a basic “brick phone” instead of an internet-enabled smartphone.
We spoke to Kate from a Smartphone free childhood, she's one of the parents involved in the judicial review against the the secretary of education.
Kate Explained:
"My biggest regret as a parent was allowing my eldest to have a smartphone for when she started secondary school"
"That smartphone became the biggest wedge for family life."
"There's is a real falseness to how we present ourselves online."
"It can be really easy for young people to go down rabbit holes - we are only just discovering how algorithms work!"
Northamptonshire councillors and school leaders have begun early conversations about whether a local agreement could help manage smartphone use more effectively.
This follows similar moves in other parts of the UK, where councils are working with schools to introduce smartphone-free covenants.
Local authorities are considering whether a shared policy across Northamptonshire would help reduce classroom disruption, create consistent expectations for families and support the mental health of pupils.
A Northamptonshire version of a smartphone-free agreement could include a ban on smartphones on school grounds, allowing only basic phones when necessary and making exceptions for medical needs.
Schools would decide how to enforce the rules, but the overall aim would be to reduce distractions, limit exposure to online harm and improve pupils’ focus during the school day.
The next step is for councils and head teachers to continue discussions and decide whether to explore a formal proposal.
As concerns about children’s screen time grow across the UK, Northamptonshire may soon join the increasing number of areas looking at stricter limits on smartphones in schools.