Turton School on banning the smartphone more than a year on

Turton School implemented the ban fully for its secondary school pupils only - not sixth-formers  who still are able to use their phone during study and breaktimes- in May of last year.

It was designed to encourage people away from the screens and encourage them to talk to each other.

(Image: NQ Staff)

Since the ban, more schools are getting on board with the idea of getting youngsters away from their smartphones.

Earlier this week, parents from schools across Greater Manchester signed up to partake in a ‘smartphone free pledge’ for children under 14.

The grassroots movement is gaining traction, receiving support from 34,780 parents at 6,357 schools since it was set up earlier this year.

More than 200 schools in Greater Manchester are on the list with Park View Primary School in Prestwich topping it after 96 parents vowed not to give their children smartphones until they reach the end of Year Nine.

A similar ban is now being trialled across mainland schools in Europe. In France, 200 secondary schools are testing their own ban whilst French-speaking primary schools in Brussels and Belgium have drafted their own restrictions.

A government decree in Hungary was passed in early August and will take effect in September. According to a recent survey, 85 per cent of Hungarians are in support of the ban.

But does it work?

Turton School headteacher Sam Gorse said: “The ban on mobile phones last year has been one of the most significant things in terms of benefits to students.

(Image: NQ Staff)

“One of the things that strikes me about it is the improvement in student practice – you see them chatting to each other and facilitating a kind, open atmosphere that previously would have been closed.

“In classrooms, the students are more open to engaging in spoken conversation and they have improved oracy when it comes to expressing themselves and having the confidence to speak out loud – there’s a notable difference there.

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“They’re more engaged in class and better engagement means more improvement in learning.

“In the beginning the ban faced concern from parents – and rightly so – we had some people writing in asking why we had introduced the ban. At the beginning it was one rule that I thought would be contentious – but it wasn’t at all.

“The students are more than happy to abide by this rule, more so than others, as they feel like it gives them a break from being constantly barraged by social media and they are recognising the benefits to their wellbeing.

(Image: PA media)

“At first I was reluctant to impose the ban and thought education would be the best way and giving the students the choice to follow the rules but not all students are at the same stage of development as others.

“When you allow them the freedom, sometimes it gets misused.”

The young people at Turton School seem to agree with the ban, and the majority are more than happy to comply with the rules.

Year 11 pupil, Tilly, said: “It was the end of Year Nine when the ban was introduced, everyone was bumping into each other, and no one was looking up from their phones.

“We’d sit on the same table and text each other – it caused a lot of anxiety. I would feel nervous if I couldn’t feel my phone in my pocket and constantly felt distracted.

“People would be blasting TikTok videos, so it was difficult to concentrate.”

(Image: Leah Collins)

Alfie, another Year 11 Turton student added: “Now that phones have been banned it’s easier to talk to your mates about mental health and improve it.

“It was constant anxiety before that someone would take a picture of me, or it would get confiscated.

“We’re trusted to keep our phones on us away and off and the responsibility makes students want to follow the rules.”

Tilly and Autumn were in Year Seven when the ban came into place and have spent their schooldays under the new rules.

Autumn said: “They’re stricter for the upper years, we kind of expected it because some other schools in the local area had imposed the ban.”

Tilly added: “At first some students were resentful of the ban as we felt like we were losing out, but now people enjoy being able to talk to one another more, you have more of that human connection.”

For sixth formers at Turton, the ban has been significant in reducing exam stress.

(Image: Leah Collins)

Sixth-form student Ella said: “The ban has been positive in reducing screen time and had been better from a mental health aspect. A lot of people were resentful at first, but as it’s gone on its quietened down.

Emily, who is also in the sixth-form added: “It’s great to see more people present in conversation.

“A lot of time outside school and college can be spent on social media, its refreshing to have a space that’s separate from that.”