'This is what happened after we banned phones in our school'

Three years ago, a primary school in York banned pupils from bringing smartphones on to the site.

The decision by Fishergate Primary in 2022 was made to improve children's mental wellbeing as well as their behaviour.

Headteacher Tina Clarke said before the ban, there would be one or two "incidents" involving inappropriate smartphone use every fortnight.

In one case, pupils in year 5 and 6 were found to be part of a Whatsapp group containing 100 users, many of them people they didn't know. Parents discovered that racist material was being shared and that bullying and late-night messaging took place in the group.

"It caused a lot of upset," said Ms Clarke, who added that there had been no "issues" around smartphones since the ban.

She estimated that out of around 40 children who leave Fishergate Primary for secondary school each year, only 15 now own a smartphone, whereas previously "almost every child" had a device.

She said that when smartphones were allowed in the school, children were being made to feel "anxious" when part of Whatsapp groups and would be confronted with large volumes of unread messages.

"We're no longer having to sort out as many friendship issues, and we've gone back to doing more things outside, like going to the park and having picnics."

Many of her pupils go on to attend Fulford School at the age of 11, and the secondary has also now implemented a smartphone ban.

She added that support further up the educational pyramid had enabled her school's policy to be a success.

"Some parents have pledged not to buy their child a phone until they are 14, and if other schools support the ban, it makes it easier for families as there is less peer pressure."

She also recommended that parents buy "dumbphones", which do not have internet access, for children to use to contact them in emergencies.

Fulford School's head, Russell Harris, said he took the decision to enforce the secondary's ban last year to create a "happy and safe" environment after realising that smartphone use contributed to bullying and "negative wellbeing".

He said: "The message to those coming here from Fishergate Primary School is that there is no expectation to have a mobile phone at Fulford School."

Any mobile device found at the school is confiscated and sanctions are applied to the child.

"Allowing phones in school causes safeguarding issues and distractions in lessons. Feedback so far has been extremely positive both from students, parents and members of staff."

Fishergate recently hosted an event called Safe Screens, which featured technology experts from North Yorkshire Police and the University of York discussing safety around the use of social media with parents.

According to national charity Parentkind, on a typical weekend 1.5 million children spend more time on phones and screens than they do at school. A survey they conducted last year of 5,490 parents showed 38% of primary school children spend at least three hours a day on a digital device and more than a third of those surveyed said their child is missing out on sleep because they spend too much time on screens.

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