“Improvement in student engagement, focus, and behaviour”
Jemma Arnold-Gunning, Insignis Trust
The Insignis Academy Trust (IAT) is a multi-academy trust that runs five secondary schools in Buckinghamshire, England. Established in 2016, its goal is to improve education and provide all children with a high-quality learning experience.
The Trust became the first Multi Academy Trust to introduce Phone Locker’s lockable pouches across all of its schools. Starting with a trial, each school adapted the system to fit their layout and culture.
With phones securely locked away, the Trust saw immediate results: calmer classrooms, fewer behaviour issues, and students more focused on learning and socialising face-to-face.
Benefits Insignis schools have experienced include:
- Improved focus and memory
- Reduced distractions and anxiety
- More sociable, interactive break times
- Significant reduction in cyber bulling
Sue Gough from the Insignis Trust commented on the successful implementation of the Phone Locker® system, saying,
“When mobile phones are fully securely locked away, students are free to engage in lessons, build real life communication skills, improve focus and memory, and make the most of every learning moment.”
Feedback from individual schools demonstrate the powerful benefits of embracing a phone-free approach.
Dan Atherton, Deputy Head of Kingsbrook School, observed a 96%+ reduction in phone instances within the school, covering online bullying and similar issues from WhatsApp use.
This was backed up by Sir William Ramsay school’s Deputy Head Ben Samuel who reported a 95% decrease in phone related incidents overnight.
Using the lockable pouches meant issues such as congregations in toilets can’t be arranged, and instead there is a calmer atmosphere within schools. Other positives include:
- A significant reduction in screentime figures
- Pupils feeling safer without phones being used for bullying
- A boundary is set between school and home life problems
Going phone-free requires great communication, with parents, students and teachers. Providing notice and inviting feedback, as well as presenting the benefits in different mediums is a great way to get started, as covered in our blog on effective roll-outs.
Consistency is also key – our experience has shown that schools who allow different rules for different year groups can face issues, and we’ve seen a hard-line stance is essential. The rules need to be clear, and followed through if broken.
By trialling the Phone Locker® programme in some schools first, it allowed Insignis to carry lessons learnt onto their other schools, and the feedback from pupils backs this up, with comments including,
“Ever since using Phone Locker®, lessons have become better as people aren’t distracted anymore and are focusing on their learning.”
Interested in creating a phone-free school?
For advice on going phone-free at your school, academy, college or university, we’re here to help.