For schools
A phone ban is a policy problem before it is a product problem. Here is how we help you get it through the gate, past the parents, and into daily practice.
Guidance
The Department for Education’s statutory guidance, Mobile phones in schools, says that schools in England should be mobile-phone-free by default and should prohibit pupils from accessing phones throughout the school day from 1 September 2026. In Scotland, the Scottish Government’s non-statutory Mobile phones: guidance for Scotland’s schools – updated 2026 encourages restrictions at least during teaching and learning and asks schools to consider whole-school bans. Lockable phone pouches offer schools a practical way to implement clear and consistent restrictions: pupils can keep their phones securely with them while the devices remain inaccessible during restricted periods, with appropriate arrangements for medical needs, reasonable adjustments and other agreed exemptions.
What is included with a school order
- A model mobile phone policy you can adapt and take to governors
- Letter and email templates for parents, with an FAQ that answers the safeguarding questions before they are asked
- Assembly slides and tutor-time briefing notes for pupils
- A staff briefing on gate duty, key handling and exceptions
- A phased rollout plan and a named contact through launch week
Common questions
Do pupils hand their phones in?
No. The phone stays in the pupil's own pouch, in their own bag or pocket, all day. Nothing is confiscated, so the school never takes custody of a valuable device.
What about emergencies?
Staff carry handheld magnetic keys and the school office holds a base, so any pouch can be opened in seconds. Parents contact the school office as they always have.
How long does a rollout take?
Typically half a term. We recommend two weeks of parent and pupil communication, a launch with one year group, then a whole-school switch after a week.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on pupil numbers, sizes and whether you want printing. Most secondaries land at a one-off cost comparable to a single textbook per pupil, with replacements only for the new intake each year.
What if a pouch is damaged or lost?
Pouches are covered by a 12-month warranty against defects. We hold UK stock so replacements and new-intake top-ups ship without a long lead time.
Does it comply with DfE and Scottish Government guidance?
Yes. From 1 September 2026, English schools should be mobile-phone-free by default. Scotland’s 2026 guidance encourages restrictions during teaching and learning and asks schools to consider whole-school bans. Lockable pouches keep the phone with the pupil while making it inaccessible — a practical fit for both frameworks, with arrangements for medical needs, reasonable adjustments and agreed exemptions.
Beyond the classroom
The same pouches are used on secure manufacturing sites, in exam halls, at comedy and music venues, and in courtrooms and clinical settings where recording is not permitted. If you need a phone-free space, we can price it.
Talk to us