Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove is taking a strict new approach to mobile phone use by introducing Yondr pouches, which will lock students’ devices away for the entire school day. The school’s decision follows concerns that its existing no-phone policy was not being effectively enforced, creating a significant burden on staff.
Under the new rule, parents will be required to purchase the Yondr pouches for approximately £25 per student. This move aligns with government guidance supporting headteachers in banning mobile phones and mirrors a growing trend among schools seeking to reduce distractions, improve behaviour, and enhance student well-being.
While research suggests that effective phone bans can boost school performance and pupil attainment, the impact on mental health remains unclear. Some parents support the policy, but concerns have been raised about the financial burden and whether it addresses the wider issue of smartphone use beyond school hours.
Growing Concerns About Smartphones in Schools
Headteacher Claire Jarman has stated that the school is increasingly concerned about the impact of smartphones on young people. The current rules require students to hand in their phones at the start of the day, but many are disregarding the policy, leading to repeated infractions and additional workload for staff.
Jarman explained that teachers and pastoral staff were spending too much time enforcing phone bans, a problem echoed in reports from other schools. A study by Common Sense Media found that young people receive an average of 237 notifications per day, many of which can disrupt learning.
Parental concerns are also rising. A Parentkind survey found that half of secondary school parents worry about their children’s screen time, while experts in Scotland have linked smartphone use to declining academic performance.
How the Yondr Pouch System Works
The school is partnering with Yondr, a US-based company, to implement its system. Each student must place their phone in a magnet-sealed pouch upon arrival at school. The pouches remain locked throughout the school day, only being released by unlocking stations at the exit.
Principal Jarman has made the policy clear: if a student wishes to bring a smartphone to school, they must purchase a Yondr pouch. The company promotes its system as a way to create distraction-free experiences, with use extending beyond schools to concerts and workplaces.
Yondr’s popularity has surged, with school districts in at least 41 US states adopting the pouches. Some schools have introduced them in response to students using phones to organise fights or record bullying incidents.
Government Support and the Policy Landscape
The Department for Education has issued guidance fully supporting headteachers who choose to ban phones during school hours, including break times.
Tom Bennett, the government’s lead behaviour adviser, argues that mobile phones are harming students’ social and educational development, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged pupils. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has reinforced the government’s position, stating that schools must be empowered to take action to improve behaviour and allow teachers to do what they do best – teach.
A study by Policy Exchange supports the move, finding that schools with effective phone bans were twice as likely to receive outstanding Ofsted ratings and achieved higher GCSE results. However, the same study found that only 11% of UK secondary schools have an effective ban in place.
Policy Exchange has recommended that the government monitor phone policies more closely and consider making bans legally binding if compliance does not improve.
Reported Benefits of Phone Bans and Yondr Pouches
Evidence from schools that have implemented Yondr pouches suggests a range of benefits:
- Akron, Ohio: Schools reported a drop in fights and greater student engagement with peers.
- Wauchope High School, Australia: Student suspensions fell by one-third, and negative incidents decreased by 10%.
- Norway: A study linked middle-school phone bans to improved grades, particularly among girls.
- UK research: Schools that introduced bans saw higher test scores.
Some educators argue that restricting phones also reduces opportunities for bullying and disruptive behaviour.
Concerns and Counterarguments
Despite the reported benefits, the Yondr pouch policy has faced criticism.
- The financial burden on parents
The £25 cost per pouch is an expense that many families may struggle to afford. With approximately 2,500 students at Cardinal Newman School, this could amount to a total cost of £62,495. Critics argue that families should not have to bear the financial burden of enforcing school discipline. - The policy is still in consultation
Cardinal Newman School has yet to finalise the decision, meaning there is room for adjustments based on parental feedback. - The real problem lies outside school hours
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has pointed out that smartphone issues extend beyond school gates. He argues that banning phones in schools does not address the wider societal issues surrounding screen time, social media addiction, and online safety. Instead, he calls for better regulation of tech companies and increased mental health support for young people. - Unclear mental health impact
While some argue that phone bans could benefit mental health, experts Megan Moreno and Andrew Przybylski caution that there is no definitive evidence linking social media to mental health decline. Przybylski describes phone bans as a simple solution that can’t possibly work to address broader well-being concerns.
For some students, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, social media is an important source of community and peer support.
What’s Next for Cardinal Newman School?
The school is still consulting on the policy, meaning further discussions with parents and students will determine how the rollout proceeds. However, if implemented, Cardinal Newman will join a growing list of schools worldwide using Yondr pouches to enforce phone bans more effectively.
While many educators and parents support restricting phone use, the financial burden and broader debate about smartphones’ role in young people’s lives remain pressing concerns.
Sources:
“Schools should ensure pupils hand in or lock up phones at start of day – report | The Independent” (Published April 30, 2024)
“Hove’s Cardinal Newman school to lock phones away for £25 each | The Argus” (Published April 18, 2024)
“Parents in Hove State school told to buy £25 magnetic-secured pouches to lock up their children’s smartphones after teachers ‘spent too much time enforcing’ existing ban | Daily Mail Online” (Published April 18, 2024)
“Schools are using Yondr pouches to lock up kids’ cellphones | Vox” (Published March 19, 2024)