A Northampton school is on its way to becoming a phone-free environment after receiving funding from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Danielle Stone has given Wootton Park Academy Trust, in Northampton, £4,500 to part-fund signal-blocking cases for students aged 11 to 16, as part of their Creating a Phone-Free School Project.
Nine-hundred children will receive their own lockable pouch, which they can safely carry round, but can’t access until the end of the day.
It means the students can be fully present in the classroom without distraction from notifications, filming or social media.
The school applied for the funding through the Commissioner’s Safe and Sound Communities Fund, which prioritises projects including children, women and young people with grants between £1,000 and £10,000 available.
Danielle said: “I’m pleased to be supporting Wootton Park Schools zero-phone policy because I believe in their approach to managing classroom environments to help children feel safe.
“Preventing harm starts with safeguarding how children feel emotionally to prevent longer term psychological harm.
“By regulating phone use, the school is giving our young people the best possible chance of success and improved wellbeing.”
The school already has a zero-phone policy but has found enforcement can be inconsistent due to convert phone use.
Following their own research, 81% of parents and 93% of teachers surveyed agree mobiles are a significant distraction and should be restricted.
This approach follows the Department of Education’s guidance to operate a phone-free environment and support focused learning environments.
CEO and Executive Headteacher Dan Rosser of Wootton Park Academy Trust (pictured) said “This project is about giving our young people the best possible chance to succeed.
“By removing the constant pull of mobile phones, we’re creating space for better concentration, stronger relationships and improved wellbeing.
“We’re delighted to have the Commissioner’s support as we take this positive step forward for our school community.”
Students and parents will learn about how the roll out will work through a series of workshops and assemblies before a review will take place in the final term of the year to gather feedback from parents, students and teachers on perceived changes in behaviour and wellbeing.
As part of the Commissioner’s grant, the school is also participating in delivering PSHE sessions to students which support an awareness of risks, citizenship and the law through the Pol-Ed scheme, funded by Serious Violence Prevention Partnership (NSVPP) in Northamptonshire.
