Mobile Phone Policy & Practice

Bishop Luffa School - our approach to mobile phones and other personal devices. 

Our position on mobile phones has changed over the last few years. We used to remain neutral in the debate about smartphones, providing parents with guidance on how they could be used safely but also acknowledging the incredible potential of smartphones to help students learn. In Autumn 2024, we began to question our position. Increasingly we were seeing how smartphones were making our youngest students vulnerable. We carried out a survey of staff early in 2025, and 80% thought that the earliest that a student should have a smartphone was in Year 10. 18% thought that it should be later; only one member of staff thought that it should be the parents’ choice. 

When we asked staff why they thought that we should intervene in something that had previously been a decision for families, the overwhelming answer was ‘because they don’t know how destructive it is until it’s too late’. One member of staff said that you wouldn’t let someone knowingly drink poison, and that was what we were effectively doing. So we decided to ban mobile phone use on the school site for Years 7-11. We spoke to parents and they were supportive. We spoke to our students and they were horrified but also a little relieved. Older students, particularly, were very supportive. 

The ban started in September 2025. Heads of House noticed a change straight-away: they were braced for a typical start to Year 7, where they would be cleaning up the mess of students misusing the new smartphones that they’d received that summer. There were no incidents reported. Instead, staff started reporting that children were playing old fashioned games at break time. We had an increase in incidents of boisterous behaviour, as students in Years 8 and 9 learnt how to play again. The atmosphere in school changed. 

Our definition of phones includes smartwatches and air pods. 

Why did we take this approach? We don’t have a catchment area, which means that many of our students live a long way from school. We knew that their families would want them to have some way of communicating if there are transport problems. We also are lucky to have students who understood what we were doing and who respect rules. They are, of course, teenagers, so we made the punishment simple and draconian. Someone was caught with their phone out within seconds of term starting in September 2025 and will be handing it in until they leave in June 2028. We collected quite a few phones in those early weeks. No-one complained; parents either kept their child’s phone at home from then on, or the student came and gave their phone in every day. 

Some staff have complained that our rule is not in keeping with our Christian values, because there is no forgiveness in it. We are clear in the attitude that we take with the students who hand the phones in that they are forgiven, that we all make mistakes, but that the consequence still stands. This, in itself, is a life lesson. It is a pleasure seeing the students every day, and the staff taking in and handing back the phones have got to know this group very well. For many, it is beneficial to have another adult checking in with them twice a day. 

What about Sixth Formers? 

We discussed what was happening with the Sixth Form and they were supportive of the approach. Many had real concerns about what their siblings were doing on social media. They agreed that they should limit their own phone use to Sixth Form only areas. We try to be understanding with each other: staff don’t get too cross if a Sixth Former checks their time or next lesson quickly on their phone, but phone calls and doom-scrolling will provoke a reaction. 

And staff?

It is difficult for staff. Following a cyber attack three years ago, we now have multi-factor authentication in place, which relies on staff using their own smartphones in school. At the same time, we can all see that we have to model a healthy relationship with our phones to students. We make a distinction: in student spaces, during the school day, staff should only use their phones for work. 

Are there any exceptions to the ban?

We have a small number of students who have medical conditions that require monitoring via an app. We have worked with their parents to find a solution that works for them: in most cases, the family wanted the same limits put on smartphone use as other students. All staff know who the students are with different arrangements. 

You can find out more about our approach to mobile phones in our Behaviour Policy. 

Austen Hindman, September 2026.