Phone-Free School Day

Introduction

From September 2026, Wilmslow High School will introduce a phone-free school day for students in Years 7 to 11 using Yondr pouches. Our aim is to create a calmer, more focused school day in which students are fully present in lessons, more engaged with one another at social times, and able to develop healthier habits around technology.

This change is not about punishment or a lack of trust. It is about creating the conditions that help young people thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Like many schools, we are increasingly concerned about the impact that constant access to smartphones and social media can have on concentration, wellbeing, friendships and day-to-day school life. Our approach is in line with Department for Education guidance, which states that schools should be mobile phone-free by default throughout the school day, including break and lunchtime.

At a glance:

From September 2026, students in Years 7 to 11 who bring a phone to school will switch it off, place it in a Yondr pouch before entering school, and keep it locked away until afternoon form time. Phones, communication-enabled smartwatches and earbuds must not be used during the school day. Families are invited to make a voluntary contribution of £10 towards the cost of the pouch through ParentPay, but every student will receive a pouch whether or not a contribution is made.

Supporting Information

Supporting information on the links below:

Parent and Carer Letter
full details of the approach, expectations and daily routines
Narrated Video
a short walkthrough explaining how this will work in practice
Frequently Asked Questions
answers to the most common questions from parents and carers
Tytherington High School Video
Yondr phone pouches in action in another school setting
Parent/Carer questions or comments form
for questions not covered in the information provided

How it will work

Students may still bring a phone to school if they normally do. Before entering school, they will switch off their phone, smartwatch and earbuds, place them in their personal Yondr pouch and lock it. The pouch then remains with the student in their bag throughout the day. Students will unlock the pouch during afternoon form time before leaving school, so they can access their phone again for travel, tickets, payment apps and communication with home.

Students who do not bring a phone to school will still be expected to bring their pouch so that the routine can be applied consistently. Where a student does not have a phone with them, staff will support a simple checking process and, where appropriate, an exemption card can be displayed in the pouch window insert. If a student arrives late or needs to leave school early for an authorised reason, Student Services will support them so that the routine remains consistent. Communication-enabled smartwatches and earbuds are covered by the same expectations and should also be switched off and stored in the pouch. Basic fitness trackers without communication functions may continue to be worn.

Frequently asked Questions

We want students to have a calmer school day with fewer distractions and more opportunity to learn, speak face to face and engage fully in school life. Schools already using Yondr commonly report better focus in lessons, calmer social times and fewer phone-related issues during the day.

Parents and carers should continue to contact the school through Reception if they need to pass on an urgent message during the school day. In the same way, if a student needs to contact home, appropriate arrangements can be made through Student Services. Our safeguarding, welfare and emergency communication arrangements remain unchanged, with communication continuing to be coordinated centrally by the school.

Students will unlock their pouches during afternoon form time before leaving school, so they should have access to phones for travel arrangements, train tickets, payment apps and communication with home before they leave site. We have chosen this timing carefully to ensure that students can leave school promptly and travel home as normal. Students attending clubs, fixtures, rehearsals or other activities after school will also normally have access to their phones once the school day has ended.

That is absolutely fine. Students are not required to own or bring a phone to school. However, students who do not bring a phone will still be expected to bring their pouch so that a consistent routine can be maintained. We may ask parents or carers to confirm that their child does not bring a phone to school.

We recognise that some students will need individual arrangements. Reasonable adjustments will be made where needed, including for students with SEND, complex medical needs or other exceptional circumstances where access to a device may be necessary. For example, students with medical conditions such as diabetes may be provided with an adapted pouch that allows immediate access if required. Families who believe their child may need an adjustment should contact the school in advance so that arrangements can be discussed carefully and put in place consistently.

Students will be expected to follow the same routine every day. If a student forgets their pouch, their phone will be handed in at the entrance and stored securely until the end of the day. Refusal to use the pouch, deliberate tampering, bringing undeclared devices or repeated failure to follow the routine will be addressed in line with the school’s Behaviour Policy. As with any new whole-school system, staff will support students carefully as they establish the routine in the first few days of term.

Families are invited to make a voluntary contribution of £10 through ParentPay towards the cost of their child’s Yondr pouch. Every student in Years 7 to 11 will receive a pouch whether or not a contribution is made, and no child will be excluded from the programme for financial reasons. Families who wish to contribute more may also do so.

Sixth Form students will not use the Yondr pouch system. However, phone use for Sixth Form students will be permitted only in three designated study areas: the Main Hall, the Learning Area and High Options. Phones should not be used in corridors, during form time, in lessons or around younger students. Separate communication for Sixth Form families will continue to set out these expectations clearly.