Eton College has become the latest school to ban pupils from using smartphones, opting for a more traditional alternative.
Starting this September, new Year 9 pupils who turn 14 during the school year will be given Nokia’ briNokia’ brick’apable only for making calls and sending texts.
The prestigious £49,000 per year school has informed parents of the new policy, advising that if their children already own smartphones, they should transfer their SIM cards to the school-issued phones.
This move follows a requirement for students in their first three years at Eton to hand in their electronic devices at night.
A spokesperson for Eton stated, “Eton routinely reviews our mobile phone and devices policy to balance the benefits and challenges that technology brings to schools.
From September, those joining Year 9 will receive a ‘brick’ phone for use outside the school day and a school-issued iPad to support academic study. Age-appropriate controls remain in place for other year groups.”
Eton joins other schools like Alleyn’s, Brighton College, and Thomas’s in restricting smartphone use among students.
This trend aligns with broader discussions about the impact of smartphone and social media use on children.
The Labour Party has expressed an open-minded stance on banning social media for children following an Education Select Committee report highlighting the severe dangers of smartphone use.
The committee, comprised of MPs from both Labour and Conservative parties, has suggested that the next government consider a complete smartphone ban for those under 16.
The report presented concerning statistics, showing that the risks of increased screen time for children and young people significantly outweigh the potential benefits. Committee chairman Robin Walker emphasized the “extensive damage” caused by excessive device use among young people.
Key findings from the report include that one in four children now exhibit phone usage patterns resembling addiction. Additionally, almost all children own a phone by age 12, with 79% encountering violent pornography before turning 18.
According to a recent research review, screen time for young children and teenagers has increased by 52% between 2020 and 2022.
With these alarming trends, schools like Eton are taking proactive steps to mitigate the negative impacts of technology on students, reinforcing a shift towards more controlled and educational use of electronic devices.
