In Solihull, 50 schools are urging parents to delay buying smartphones for kids. This initiative aims to improve mental health and focus among students.
Solihull: A group of schools in West Midlands is asking parents to hold off on buying smartphones for their kids. They believe this will help with mental health and focus in class.
Fifty schools in Solihull sent a letter to parents about this. Some schools are already phone-free, while others, like Alderbrook School, have a voluntary phone hand-in program.
At Alderbrook, students can lock up their phones during school hours. Headteacher Tom Beveridge says they want to reduce distractions from phones.
Tom mentioned that many kids are distracted by their phones, which can affect their learning. He noted that 97% of kids have a phone by age 12, according to Ofcom.
Both Tom and Claire Smith, headteacher at Tudor Grange Academy, are not judging parents. They just want to encourage delaying phone purchases until kids are older.
At Alderbrook, the phone hand-in scheme started with 10 students and grew to 140. Next year, it will be mandatory for new year 7 students.
Claire explained that at Tudor Grange, phones are not allowed on school grounds. If students need a phone for travel, they must hand it in at school.
Both schools have policies to keep phones out of sight. If students are caught with phones multiple times, parents must come to retrieve them.
During a recent community event, parents learned about the risks of smartphones. One parent expressed gratitude for the school’s efforts to raise awareness.
Another parent felt inspired to connect with others about this issue. Tom and Claire hope to continue spreading the message about delaying smartphone purchases.
