THE area’s two secondary schools say they will become “fully phone-free” from June.
Downend School and Mangotsfield School are introducing “secure” lockable pouches, which pupils will have to keep their phones in throughout the school day.
The fabric pouches are locked and unlocked magnetically on entering and leaving school, which means pupils can keep their phones with them but can’t access them.
Castle School Education Trust (CSET) is introducing the pouches for around 4,500 children in all four of its secondary schools.
Announcing the policy, the trust said: “By becoming fully phone-free, the schools are creating an environment where pupils can focus on their learning without the distraction of their phones.
“It also supports more meaningful social interaction, as pupils spend breaktimes and lunchtimes talking and playing together rather than being on their phones.
The trust says it has “worked closely” with staff, pupils and parents to prepare for the policy.
CSET director of secondary schools Joe Docherty said: “Our priority as a Trust is that our students receive the very best educational experience, enjoy school and engage fully.
“By going phone-free across our four secondary schools, we are creating an environment where our students can thrive in the classroom and focus on building authentic human connections.
“We want our students to grow into themselves without the anxiety of constant comparison, ensuring they leave our classrooms with not just better grades, but better mental health and strong positive relationships.”
The pouches are produced by Yondr, a company which has already supplied more than three million to schools in over 55 countries.
They are also used at some events, such as concerts and comedy shows, to stop interruptions or video recording.
Organisations typically pay £15 to £25 per pouch, with users charged a fee if they damage or lose one.
Yondr founder Graham Dugoni said the pouches “give school staff a break from constant enforcement, while giving children a space to switch off from their phones during the school day, focus on learning and engaging with their peers”.
He said: “We know the positive difference this makes, not only in lessons but across the whole school culture.”
The trust says international studies found 60% of pupils believe smartphone use has disrupted lessons, and almost half felt anxious when separated from their phones.
It says schools one school that started using the pouches reported an 80% decrease in cyberbullying, a 40% reduction in detentions for disruptive behaviour, and a 75% drop in truancy.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson recently said that the government expects every school to have an effective phone-free strategy for the entire school day.