Phone Free College

Details of the College Mobile Phone Policy can be found on the Policies Page

Changes from 2026:

Due to changes within government guidance (Mobile Phones in schools 2026), schools are expected to be phone free environments where students do not have access to their phones during the school day.

Phone Free Environment

At Heathfield Community College, we are dedicated to creating a vibrant, focused, and safe environment where every student can learn without distraction and build strong relationships.

To build on our commitment to a phone free school day, we are introducing a new secure phone pouch system starting September 2026. This policy ensures that mobile phones are completely out of sight and out of mind, allowing students to fully immerse themselves in their education and school community.

Rationale

Government Guidance

The decision to move to a physical pouch system reflects The Department for Education (DfE) expectation for schools to implement a policy whereby pupils do not have access to their mobile phone throughout the school day including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime.

Evidence and Research

There is growing evidence of the positive impact phone free schools have on young people. By securing devices during the school day, we aim to achieve:

  • Undivided Attention in Lessons: Removing the physical presence and temptation of the phone helps students deepen their focus, improve their memory retention, and engage more actively in class.
  • Healthier Social Dynamics: Break and lunchtimes are vital for developing social skills. Without screens, our social spaces become livelier, friendlier, and filled with genuine conversation and active play.
  • Improved Mental Wellbeing: not having access to phones for the duration of the day provides a crucial break from the pressures of social media, notifications, and any online anxiety.
  • A Safer Community: Securing devices protects the privacy of both students and staff, eliminating the risk of unapproved filming, photography, or cyber-bullying on the school site.

How the Pouch System Works

The process is simple, secure, and becomes a daily routine for every student from the moment they arrive in September:

The gates will open at 8.15am at the front and back of college.

On arrival at school, students will:

  1. Turn their mobile phone off
  2. Unlock the pouch using one of the unlocking stations          

(at the student entrance and rear entrance)

  • Place the mobile phone inside the pouch with the top of the phone showing
  • Present the open pouch to a member of staff on duty who will touch the screen to confirm the phone is off. The staff member will lock it and hand it back to put in their bag.
  • At the end of the day, they will open their pouch at an unlocking station, remove the phone, close the pouch and put it in their bag.
  • If staying for any after school activity, the phone remains in the pouch until they leave the site.

Anyone who is late to school will go through the same process when coming through Welfare

Start of Day
End of Day

Clarity on misuse:

The pouch is school property and must be brought to college every day, undamaged. If a phone is seen outside of a locked pouch during the school day, or if a pouch has been deliberately damaged or bypassed, it will be treated as a serious breach of our Behaviour for Learning Policy, and standard sanctions will apply.

Information for Parents & Carers

We know that transitioning to a new system requires a partnership between home and school. We enormously appreciate your support in making Heathfield a distraction-free space.

  • Contacting Your Child: If you have an urgent message or emergency, please call the main College Reception. Our team will ensure your child receives the message immediately. Please do not attempt to text or call your child’s phone during the day, as they will not be able to see it.
  • Students with confirmed medical needs that require phone access can apply for a medical pouch which has a discreet, non-lockable seal. Welfare should already be aware of any student with a medical need that requires access to a phone.
  • If a Student Needs to Contact Home: If a student has an urgent reason to reach a parent, they should speak to their Pastoral Manager, where a school phone will be made available.
  • Pouch Responsibility: Every student will be issued their pouch at the start of term. If a pouch is lost or intentionally damaged, the student will be required to purchase a replacement.