School bans smartphones during pupils' first year

A secondary school has said it will ban smartphones for Year 7 pupils from September.

Ringwood School in Hampshire said it would restrict new joiners to non-smartphones only during their first year.

It said smartphones were linked to mental health issues, poor sleep and a lack of focus.

Headteacher Leanne Symonds said the policy followed concerns raised "through the latest research and most notably in the Channel 4 documentary Swiped".

The programme, presented by TV personalities Mat and Emma Willis, followed a school in Colchester as pupils spent 21 days away from smartphones.

In a press release, Ringwood School said: "While the school recognises that many students are given smartphones upon entering secondary school, it believes that early exposure to smartphones can have detrimental effects on young people's mental health, sleep, and focus.

"Research, including findings from Swiped, shows that smartphone use among children is linked to rising mental health issues, which have increased by 50% in the last three years."

However, research from the University of Birmingham in February suggested banning phones in school made little difference to students' grades or how they feel.

At the same time, the study did find an association between extended phone use in general and negative effects on well-being and schoolwork.

On Facebook, many people welcomed Ringwood School's approach.

However, some parents said smartphones were needed for children's safety or for practical reasons such as bus passes.

Many UK schools and some countries already ban or restrict pupils' smartphone use.

A ban is supported by the Conservative Party, after a Labour MP's private member's bill that had previously suggested banning phones in schools was watered down in March while the government considers the issue.

Ringwood School declined to be interviewed.

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