What are the steps to making a secondary school smartphone free?

[.style-intro]Putting a new secondary school smartphone policy into practice takes clarity, consistency and a belief that better is possible. Principal Damian McBeath, who led the John Wallis Church of England Academy in Kent through the transition to a genuinely phone-free school day, told us how they did it. Here’s what we can learn from his story.[.style-intro]

Understand why it’s not working

Lots of schools already have a phone ban – often a ‘no see, no hear’ policy. But as Damian found, these policies can fall short in practice. Despite their best efforts, Damian said staff were battling constant distractions, safeguarding issues, and daily incidents triggered by smartphones.

“It felt like a digital game of whack-a-mole. These devices were popping up everywhere.” 

Take the time to identify what’s not working – and why. You might find that the issue isn’t enforcement, but the presence of smartphones in school full stop.

Build support internally

Big change starts with open conversation. Damian began by discussing the need for stronger measures with his governing body. When a full smartphone ban proved difficult due to concerns about safety on the way to and from school, he proposed a new approach: Yondr pouches.

“We looked at what wasn’t working, and asked: why?”

Your senior leadership team, governors or staff might have concerns. That’s normal. The key is to bring people in early, explain the ‘why’ clearly, and propose practical solutions.

Choose a workable solution

Yondr pouches became the school’s answer: students lock their phones away at the start of the day and unlock them as they leave the school site.

“It’s a simple concept. Pupils self-manage it. Staff don’t have to spend time collecting or returning phones.”

It doesn’t have to be pouches – some schools use lockers, others ban smartphones entirely and allow basic ‘brick’ phones instead. But what matters is a solution that ensures phones are genuinely out of reach during the school day.

Communicate clearly with families

Damian sent a letter home to families and held an information evening to explain the change. While some parents initially objected online, proactive communication – including engaging local media – helped shift the conversation.

“There were threats of ‘I’m taking this to Ofsted!’ So we contacted the local paper ourselves. The story garnered a lot of support.”

Expect questions, and be ready with clear answers. Being open and proactive can make all the difference.

Launch with consistency

Damian and his team didn’t leave implementation to chance. The senior leadership team led the roll-out, greeting pupils and checking pouches at the school gates. A hall was set aside to manage the small number of pupils who initially refused.

“We were obsessed with making this work. Day one was crucial.”

Consistency is key. Regular pouch checks in class reinforced the new norm and showed pupils this wasn’t a passing fad. By 9.30am on launch day, 98% of phones were pouch-locked.

Monitor and adapt

Ongoing checks helped keep compliance high. If a pupil forgot their pouch, they could hand in their phone. If a phone was seen during the day, parents were asked to collect it.

“The importance of checks can’t be under-rated. Pupils knew we were monitoring.”

Adapt the logistics as needed – but keep the standard consistent. This is what makes the difference between a rule and a real cultural shift.

Notice the impact

Since launching the new system, The John Wallis Academy has seen a dramatic drop in phone-related incidents, improved behaviour, and a calmer atmosphere throughout the school.

“Staff kept saying: this is a different school.”

• Detentions and sanctions dropped by over 40%
• Physical altercations are virtually gone
• Online bullying and safeguarding reports are at a five-year low
• Truancy has been almost entirely eliminated
• Staff morale has soared and our retention is now at 95+%

And pupils themselves have noticed the difference:

“We’re talking more. We understand each other better.”

“There’s no point bunking off – there’s no one else doing it and you can’t watch Netflix anymore.”

Remember it’s totally doable

Damian’s final message is clear: it might seem like a big shift, but it’s absolutely possible.

“This was not that hard to achieve. It’s something all schools could adopt if they choose to.”

Every school will find its own way. But as Damian’s experience shows, with clarity, communication and consistency, you can make smartphone-free schools a reality — and transform your school culture in the process.

Want to explore what this might look like for your school? Join our SFC Schools Network to connect with other teachers and leaders like Damian making the change.

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