1 week Ago
A secondary school is going smartphone free as the movement gathers momentum across the county. Downlands Community School in Hassocks informed parents on March 31 that they will be implementing a smartphone-free policy from September. Students will still be allowed to bring phones to school, if they wish, for safety reasons linked to travelling to and from school.
READ MORE: Meet the Hove mums battling to make Brighton smartphone free Phones will not be allowed to be used in class for any reason and students will not be able to access their phone during the school day. The letter, signed by headteacher Mark Wignall, says the policy is designed to have a “positive effect on students' mental health, reduce anxiety and promote a healthier lifestyle”. Fewer distractions during the school day will also help to “improve their ability to concentrate and learn”.
Downlands joins a number of schools up and down the country making the decision to go smartphone free, including Cardinal Newman Catholic School which went smartphone free in September 2024 . The school requires parents to buy their children a magnet-secured Yondr wallet. Pupils put their phones in the wallet, and it is locked at the school entrance – making it impossible to access throughout the school day.
At the end of the day, they tap the pouch on the unlocking base to regain access..
