Fights down 80% after Birmingham school introduces phone pouches
Staff report fall in cyberbullying and mental health incidents
Heartlands Academy in Duddeston and North Birmingham Academy in Perry Common introduced magnetic pouches after October half term, meaning pupils keep their phones but cannot use them during the school day.
Wesley Lisbie, deputy head at Heartlands Academy, said the change followed a push to strengthen an existing no-phones policy, “We’ve always had a no phones policy. However, over the last year is when we’ve really stepped it up.”
He said parents were consulted before the move and many shared concerns about phone use at home “With the home situation, with the amount of time the students are spending on their phones at home… they feel like they’re losing that battle.”
Staff say since the change, cyberbullying incidents have fallen by 50 percent, overall bullying is down, and mental health-related incidents have decreased by nearly a quarter compared with the previous half term.
On the wider debate around restricting young people’s access to social media, Mr Lisbie said education is key “Young people are using it without the education around it. I think that’s what the real crux of the matter is.”
He said students can consume large amounts of content quickly without fully understanding it “Education has to sit alongside… using social media effectively.”
Mr Lisbie said the school is continuing to work with families to manage phone use beyond the school day.
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