Schools to trial social media blackout scheme

Three schools in Surrey are launching a pilot programme to restrict mobile phone usage in an attempt to improve pupils' wellbeing.

The secondary schools, which are part of the GLF Schools trust, are to trial an app that blocks social media, messaging and other apps which they believe are "distracting" during school hours.

GLF Schools said the expected benefits were more focus in the classroom, a calmer learning environment and improved student mental health.

About 2,300 students are to participate in the pilot, according to GLF Schools.

Its chief executive, Julian Drinkall, said: "Every parent and carer knows that smartphones are essential in everyday life."

But he said the downsides included "distracting notifications", "dangerous content," and "excessive screen time".

Glyn School in Ewell, Merstham Park in Redhill and Rosebery School in Epsom are to take part in the pilot. Meridian High School in Croydon will also be involved.

During the trial, essential functions like calls, SMS, maps and calendars will still be accessible, and pupil's phones will be checked to ensure the Blackout app is installed.

The benefits for staff and pupils will be monitored and the results shared with other schools, councils and policymakers, the trust said.

Mr Drinkall added that blanket bans on mobile phones were hard to enforce, and GLF Schools wanted a more "nuanced" policy and to experiment with what works best.

A recent study found that banning phones was not linked to pupils behaving better in classrooms or improved mental wellbeing compared to schools without phone bans.

Instead, researchers found that spending longer on smartphones and social media in general was linked with worse results for those measures.