creating a phone-free environment at KES
At King Edward’s School, we are committed to creating a learning environment that supports focus, positive social interactions, and pupil wellbeing. As part of this commitment, we are updating our mobile phone policy for pupils in Years 7 to 11, with changes taking effect during the first half of the Autumn Term. This update is designed to be simple for families, consistent for pupils, and supportive of healthy habits at home as well as in school.
For the past two years, our mobile-free policy has required pupils to switch off their phones and store them in lockers during the school day. Building on this foundation, we are now introducing the Yondr pouch system, a secure and practical solution already in use in schools in the UK.
What the New Policy Means
- Pupils who bring a phone or smartwatch to school will be required to switch them off and lock them in a Yondr pouch upon arrival.
- Devices will remain inaccessible until pupils leave the school site.
- If your child does not bring a phone or smartwatch to school, you can let us know and a pouch will not be required.
Supporting Healthy Digital Habits
KES recognises that technology plays a central role in modern life. Through our Learning for Life programme, we will continue to educate pupils on responsible and positive technology use and offer support to those struggling with phone use.
At home, we believe it is important to establish supportive routines to help children develop a healthy relationship with technology and stay safe online. To assist our parent community in this, we will continue to offer opportunities to hear from experts and take part in our Learning for Life parent sessions, which share practical strategies and the latest research on digital wellbeing.
Our next parent seminar is on Monday, 6th October: Reclaiming Childhood (Part 2), during which Hannah Dawes, our Head of Learning for Life, will focus on practical ways to support healthy phone use at home.
In addition to supporting our community, for families of pupils joining Year 7 in September, our recommendation is to refrain, where possible, from purchasing a smartphone for your child. If a phone is necessary, we suggest choosing a basic model without internet access.
More details on the launch of the Yondr pouch system at KES will be shared with parents after the start of term.
