FAQs

Why isn’t the campaign just about smartphones instead of all phones?

Smartphones aren’t the only distraction. Even basic mobile phones allow messaging, photos and internet access. From a safeguarding and practical point of view, it’s far clearer for schools to have a single rule for all phones rather than trying to police which features each model has. A complete phone-free policy is the simplest and fairest way to keep students safe and focused. 

If we say schools need lockers or pouches, aren’t you just endorsing kids having phones?

No. By age 12 about 97% of children own phones. Lockers or pouches simply make a phone-free school day workable and enforceable. It’s a practical safeguarding step, not an endorsement of phone use. We would love a world where no child has a smartphone or social media, but we recognise reality and want to protect children today. 

My child needs a smartphone to get the bus to school and for me to track them.

Our campaign only covers the school day. Children can still bring phones to and from, but they stay stored securely during lessons and break times. 

Even if you ban phones in schools, they will still have all the issues you speak about outside of school. How does this help?

Phone-free schools give children a daily break from digital pressures, helping them focus, socialise and build resilience. It doesn’t solve everything, but it’s a powerful step in protecting mental health during a large part of their day. Many children claim, with an enforced ban at school, they use them less out of school. We know that much more needs to be done and this is a vital step in addressing the wider problem.  

My child needs their smartphone with them all the time for medical reasons.

Schools already make exceptions for medical needs. Phone-free policies can be adapted so children with genuine medical requirements keep access under staff supervision. 

Why aren’t you also campaigning against EdTech, social media for under-16s, etc.?

We support wider reforms, but phone-free schools are the most immediate, achievable safeguarding measure. Removing phones from the school day is a clear first step while broader policies catch up.