How parents are working with teachers to create smartphone free schools

[.style-intro]Across the UK, parents and teachers are working together to create smartphone free schools. Through the Smartphone Free Childhood movement, thousands of schools have already made the change – proving what’s possible when families and educators unite to protect childhood.[.style-intro]

A parent-powered shift in our schools

Since the Smartphone Free Childhood movement began, thousands of schools have gone smartphone free – thanks to the energy and determination of parents who recognise that schools are our most powerful allies in protecting childhood.

At its heart, Smartphone Free Childhood brings parents together through the Parent Pact, helping families delay smartphones by acting collectively rather than alone. But smartphone free schools take that one step further: they make it normal – even expected – to be at school without a phone, creating a culture that backs up what parents are doing at home.

Across the UK, parents are teaming up with teachers and headteachers to bring these policies to life – proving that real change doesn’t come from mandates, but from collaboration and care.

What was once a difficult or divisive topic is now a shared mission. Parents and teachers are finding common ground, building momentum, and creating school environments where children can focus, connect and flourish.

Just a few years ago, many school leaders worried that restricting smartphones might be unpopular. But as parental backing has grown, so has confidence. Together, families and educators are reshaping what’s normal for childhood – and showing that a smartphone free school is a stronger, happier place to learn.

“It’s great to have the backing of parents to enable us to do it,” says one headteacher from a large primary school in the South West. “We always wanted to take a clear stance on smartphones, but knowing families were behind us made all the difference.”

Why schools – and teachers – matter so much

Most teachers went into education for one reason: because they believe that learning is the best way to give children the brightest possible future. But many have found themselves at the coalface of a crisis they didn’t create. They’ve watched attention spans shrink, anxiety rise, and classroom culture change under the weight of smartphones and social media.

For them, the move towards smartphone free schools isn’t radical – it’s a relief. It brings back the focus and human connection that make learning possible. That’s why so many educators are already part of this movement, connecting through the Smartphone Free Childhood Schools Network, which supports teachers to lead change in their communities. 

“Once parents started these conversations, it gave us the momentum we needed. Knowing families were ready for change meant we could move forward confidently, and the whole school community has benefited.”
Karen Read, Headteacher, St Mary's CofE Primary School, Suffolk.

And while a smartphone-free school day is only one piece of the puzzle, it’s a powerful one. Schools shape what feels normal for families. When a school goes smartphone free, it doesn’t just change what happens inside the gates – it changes the conversation at home too.

When schools speak, parents listen. Clear leadership gives families permission to hold firm on boundaries that can otherwise feel hard to maintain alone. A smartphone free school policy ripples outwards, helping parents delay smartphones, reducing peer pressure, and setting a healthier cultural baseline for the whole community.

That’s why schools are such vital allies in protecting childhood. A smartphone free school day may not solve everything – but it gives children a daily window of time to be fully present: learning, socialising and growing without the pull of addictive algorithms.

How schools are becoming smartphone free schools‍

In many schools, it starts with a small group of parents connecting, sharing their concerns about smartphones, and saying, “Shall we do this together?”

They form an SFC WhatsApp group and begin building support for the Parent Pact. Once a critical mass of families are signed up, that unity often gives school leaders the confidence to strengthen or update smartphone policies.

From there, change happens collaboratively. Parents and staff work together to communicate clearly, host Q&A sessions, and support families through the transition. The focus is always on partnership, not pressure.

The outcome is powerful: calmer classrooms, confident teachers, and parents who feel united in protecting their children’s wellbeing.

A growing national picture‍

Thousands of schools across the country have already gone smartphone free – from small village primaries to large secondaries, whole multi-academy trusts and even entire boroughs.
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What unites them isn’t policy or postcode – it’s people. Parents who care deeply. Teachers who see the change needed up close. Headteachers who dare to lead.
Teachers report calmer classrooms and stronger focus. Parents describe relief and solidarity. And children? They get six uninterrupted hours each day to learn, socialise and grow – free from the noise of notifications and the pull of the feed.
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This is what active citizenship looks like: families and educators coming together to change what once felt unchangeable.

Join the movement!

Smartphone Free Childhood exists to make this collaboration easy. Our free resources include:

School Organiser quickstart guide – the best way to build movement momentum in your school

School policy templates and guides for headteachers and governors

Case studies from successful smartphone-free schools

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