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There has been national rise in concern and interest around young people's use of smartphones. At SASM, pupils are not permitted to bring smartphones to school until they are in the Upper School (Years 5 or 6). We do not permit smartphones to be used by pupils on the premises at any time, unless agreed to support a medical need. Phones must be handed into the class teacher each day. There is also a growing Smartphone Free Childhood community of parents at SASM. This page gives you more information about our approach.
How have we worked with families to raise awareness about smartphones?
How have we worked with families to raise awareness about smartphones?
Following a survey of 159 SASM parents and carers in autumn 2024 by parent/ carer volunteers, 87% of respondents said that they would be supportive of SASM recommending to parents that they do not give their child a smartphone during the primary school years.
This survey recognises that there is a growing number of parents and carers who are delaying giving their child a smartphone. As a result, parents, governors and school leaders formed a working party to explore the issue further. As a result, we have created a pledge that parents and carers can sign. The aim is to create an environment where parents and carers do not feel isolated if they choose to delay giving their child a smartphone. Knowing other parents are delaying helps alleviate the pressure to expose children to the risks of smart devices and social media.
This pledge is optional and anonymous but we will share the number of pupils whose parents have completed this pledge in our newsletter. You can take the pledge by clicking here.
What if I still want my child to bring a phone to school?
What if I still want my child to bring a phone to school?
Pupils are not be permitted to bring a phone to school unless families have attended Smartphone Awareness Training. If your child brings in a smartphone, we will ask for it to be collected from the office by an adult.
The aim of the training is to explain the school's approach and some emerging concerns about smartphone use for young people and to provide key tips about how to keep your child safe online. The training video will run in the Science Lab at key school events and your next opportunity to view this will be at the Spring Term Parent Consultations, where the training will be on shown on a loop in the Lab. The flowchart below explains the process:
Looking for more information?
Looking for more information?
SASM Parents/Carers Smartphone Free WhatsApp Group - this is a parent-led group for any SASM parents to connect as part of the Smartphone Free Childhood Movement; it is not created nor regulated by the school. You can join the group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LaR5fqDTbmy6p3VOkFn4Tt
Should smartphones be banned for under-16s? - this article is a record of a debate, hosted by the BBC, between Daisy Greenwell (founded of the Smartphone Free Childhood movement) and Sonia Livingstone (a professor from the London School of Economics, who leads the university's research centre for children's digital rights)
Smartphone Free Childhood - the principal website for the Smartphone Free Childhood movement
LGFL ParentSafe- this resource, from the London Grid for Learning, contains practical information and guidance about technology use, including smartphones
Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones - coming soon on Channel 4, the Stanway School in Colchester and challenge a group of Year 8 pupils – and themselves – to give up their smartphones completely for 21 days. This experiment, conducted in conjunction with The University of York, will see the pupils undergo a series of tests with experts meticulously monitoring their behavioural changes over the 21 days, repeating the tests at the end of the three weeks to conclude what effects giving up your phone really does have on your brain including sleep and attention.
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