Charity hopes to ban smartphones in schools

A Bristol-based charity is hoping to make the city the first in the UK where smartphones are banned from all classrooms.

The charity Papaya - Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adolescents - is calling on parents to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the age of 14. Campaigners believe this could significantly improve young people's mental health.

The organisation is working with more than 100 schools in Bristol and has secured commitments from 10 institutions to implement stricter policies.

Dr Susie Davies, founder of Papaya, said: "We want them to have a phone-free environment in schools so they concentrate on their learning, but also socialising in breaktime."

Papaya predicts that by the start of the next school term, a majority of Bristol's secondary schools could be signed up to their smartphone-free initiative.

Dr Davies, who is also a Bristol-based GP, said: "We want Bristol to be a smart phone-free city, where children don't get their first smart phone until they're 14."

Papaya is supporting schools to enforce phone-free environments through tools like Yondr pouches and lock boxes.

"It gives young people an extra two to three years of childhood," Dr Davies explained.

"Time to play, to enjoy each other's company, and to concentrate on learning and social development without the distraction of constant notifications."

What began as a small local initiative is now part of a national movement, with communities across the UK joining in.

"Smartphone-free childhood is becoming a viral movement," said Dr Davies.

"Parents and school leaders are increasingly aware of the link between phones and poor mental health."

Papaya has created a template letter inviting schools to sign up to the campaign and encouraging teachers and headteachers to get involved.

One of the early adopters is The Orchard School in north Bristol, where headteacher Melanie Sweet introduced locking pouches for phones a year ago.

She said the impact has been transformative.

"We've been delighted," said Ms Sweet. "We've seen a drop in 'corridor defiance', which is when students refuse to hand over phones, and a huge increase in engagement with our personal development programmes.

"Pupils are joining more clubs and break times are now social, happy spaces."

The school's trust is now recommending that parents delay smartphones until secondary students reach Year 10.

"It's not a ban, it's a recommendation," said Ms Sweet.

"But as a mother and a headteacher, I feel like we've preserved a little corner of childhood. I'd urge other parents to consider it."

Some teenagers have also told the BBC that growing up without a smartphone has felt like a relief rather than a restriction.

"I think I'm just less addicted to my phone than a lot of my friends," said Sofia, 16.

"Because I didn't have social media drilled into my life early on, I don't depend on it. I can go out without it and not worry."

Issy, aged 16, said her parents gave her a "brick" phone with very restricted internet and which shuts down at 19:00 every day.

When asked about how she felt about her parents' decision, she said it has given her more time to spend on her hobbies.

"I'm quite relieved," she said. "I've got a very different relationship with my phone."

Dr Davies, who said she sees the effects of screen addiction daily in her clinic, believes the time for action is now.

"There's real appetite for change, from teachers, parents, and students alike," she said.

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