{"id":1996,"date":"2026-01-20T16:24:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phonelocker.marklanham.com\/?p=1996"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:59:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:59:41","slug":"why-marist-college-went-phone-free-and-what-other-schools-can-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/why-marist-college-went-phone-free-and-what-other-schools-can-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Marist College Went Phone-Free and What Other Schools Can Learn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

<\/p>\n

At Marist College in Athlone, something quietly powerful is happening. Since the start of term, students have been arriving each morning, slipping their phones into lockable pouches and heading into lessons without the usual digital distractions.
\nNo buzzing pockets. No sneaky scrolling. Just calm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just calmer now,\u201d Principal Michael Dermody shared. \u201cYou\u2019d see a group of students sitting together, but talking through Snapchat. Now they\u2019re chatting properly. Playing football. Laughing. It\u2019s made a real difference.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t about punishment or control. It\u2019s about giving students space to breathe \u2014 and it\u2019s part of a growing movement across Europe and the UK to rethink how phones fit into the school day.<\/p>\n

A Simple System That Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At Marist, the routine is straightforward. Students lock their phones in secure pouches at the start of the day. The pouches stay with them, tucked away in their bags, until they\u2019re magnetically unlocked at home time.
\nTeachers take part too, modelling the same behaviour.<\/p>\n

The results are clear: more eye contact, more focus and a more genuine connection to learning. Teachers are noticing better engagement in lessons, students say they feel less pressure, and parents are fully on board.
\nA small shift \u2014 big ripple effects.<\/p>\n

Why Schools Are Making This Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Across the UK and Ireland, schools are navigating the impact of mobile phones not just on learning, but on wellbeing. The UK government has backed a nationwide ban during school hours, encouraging schools to take clear, consistent action.<\/a><\/p>\n

The reasons are familiar to anyone working in education: distraction, anxiety, social comparison and sleep disruption. But solutions need to be practical, not controlling \u2014 and that\u2019s where phone pouches come in.<\/p>\n

Why Schools Are Choosing Smartphone Pouches<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lockable phone pouches offer a respectful middle ground. Students keep their phones with them, but can\u2019t access them during the day.
\nNo confiscation. No confrontation. Just a quiet, consistent boundary.<\/p>\n

Phone Locker\u00ae\u2019s pouch system is purpose\u2011built for schools, offering a calm and practical way to manage mobile phone use. Each pouch locks magnetically and can only be opened at designated stations, keeping devices secure but still in students\u2019 possession.<\/p>\n

The system is simple to use, low\u2011admin for staff and flexible enough for a single classroom or a whole\u2011school rollout. Schools also receive full support, making implementation smooth and sustainable.<\/p>\n

But more than anything, it\u2019s not just about removing phones \u2014 it\u2019s about restoring presence, focus and genuine connection throughout the school day.<\/p>\n

Considering a Phone\u2011Free Policy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If your school is exploring a phone\u2011free approach, Phone Locker\u00ae can help. We work with schools globally to create calmer, more connected learning environments, with practical tools that make change feel doable.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1996"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3153,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1996\/revisions\/3153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testphonelocker.promcollection.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}