Phone ban: pouches to be introduced for all comprehensive students with no exceptions

All students at Westside and Bayside will be required to use the new phone-pouch system, with no exceptions.

Starting in January, the comprehensives will introduce a phone ban, using secure pouches to keep devices locked away during the school day.

Last week, the Government announced the Yondr programme was going to be introduced in schools this January.

Mobile devices are placed in a pouch with a magnetic lock for the entirety of the school day.

The Education Department is hopeful this will tackle the distraction of phones in classroom settings.

GBC asked the Government if all students will have to use the phone pouches and if any will be exempt.

Government is clear there will be no exemptions and all Bayside and Westside students will have to use the pouches.

However, there are pouches available for pupils who have specific medical or other needs and these will be distributed by schools as per required and appropriate.

GBC asked how much it will cost to introduce the programme.

Government says the programme will cost 49,000 pounds to implement, plus a recurrent cost for every set of new year 7 pupils, replacement pouches and maintenance.

And how will this programme actually be introduced? With less than a month till the end of term, we asked if a procedure had been drafted & if is there a timeline for the communication to parents and pupils.

Number Six told us a timeline for communication and implementation starting in January has been drafted and will be shared in due course.

GBC wanted to know how this will actually be enforced.

We asked the Government who will ‘police’ it on school grounds? Will teachers be responsible for making sure students use them?

Government says it is not a question of policing. It states the strategy is intended to strengthen the schools' existing policies on mobile phones. It says procedures will mirror existing school procedures.

It’s confident pupils, staff and parents will work collaboratively to ensure the the policy is respected and adhered to.

It says if damage to a pouch is accidental, a replacement will be provided, but if it’s deliberate it will be treated the same way as damaging any other school property.