CFBL: moving towards a smartphone-free school
CFBL is gradually moving towards becoming a Smartphone-Free School, with a clear aim: to reduce the place smartphones occupy in school life and create an environment that better supports concentration, face-to-face interaction and wellbeing.
This approach goes beyond simply banning phone use in lessons. More broadly, it is about building a shared culture around healthier and more balanced use of technology, in partnership with students and families.
By the end of this term, we will take a further step with the introduction of secure magnetic phone pouches. On arrival at school, students will place their switched-off phone in a pouch, which they will keep with them but which will remain locked until they leave the school site.
This system will reinforce a rule that is already in place at CFBL: mobile phones must be switched off and put away throughout the school day.
An approach shaped with our community
This development is part of a wider conversation that has been taking place over several years between the school, the APC, parents and students.
Surveys have been carried out with primary families, followed by parents and students in secondary school. The results show strong support for this direction: 96% of parents surveyed support restrictions on smartphone use at school, and 64% would like the school to provide more guidance and support.
They also highlight some significant gaps between parents’ perceptions and students’ reported habits. 30% of students say they check their phone during the night, while only 1% of parents are aware of this. 52% say they have been contacted online by someone they do not know in real life, compared with just 10% of parents who are aware of this.
Parents and students also broadly agree on the issue of screen time: 84% of parents and 81% of students believe excessive screen time is a problem.
Delaying the introduction of smartphones
The Smartphone-Free School approach has already been adopted across the whole of primary school. In 6ème, where support from families is particularly strong, 97% of parents surveyed support school restrictions and 76% support a voluntary smartphone-free pact.
CFBL therefore encourages families, where possible, to delay buying and introducing a smartphone for children in primary school and 6ème, including outside school.
This approach will continue to develop over time, with the aim of creating a consistent framework across the whole community and giving students the space to build independence, social relationships and healthy digital habits.
The APC is also contributing to this work and last year organised a parent conference on smartphone and screen use among children and teenagers.
By moving progressively towards becoming a Smartphone-Free School, CFBL aims to give students more space to learn, connect and grow without the constant distractions of smartphones.