Gordano School welcomed school leaders from across the South West to see how its fully phone-free approach is improving focus, behaviour and wellbeing across the school day.

Guests observed the school’s morning arrival and pouching process, before hearing from staff and pupils about how their approach is working in practice. The event comes as new government guidance states that schools should operate as phone-free environments throughout the whole school day, with many schools now reviewing how to implement policies that meet both government and Ofsted expectations.

Since June 2025 Gordano School has used Yondr pouches to create a consistent, whole-school approach to phone-free learning. Pupils keep their phones with them, secured in a pouch, which is locked on arrival and unlocked at the end of the school day. This allows the school to remove access to phones during the day without requiring pupils to hand in their devices.

Staff say the pouches have made the school’s phone-free policy easier to manage consistently, reducing the need for teachers to check phone use and giving them more time to focus on teaching, learning and pastoral support. Pupils described being more engaged in lessons and having better face-to-face interactions with classmates and teachers. Parents have also reported positive changes at home, including fewer conflicts over phone use.

The event was covered by ITV News, highlighting the growing national conversation around phone-free schools and showcasing how Gordano School’s approach is delivering positive outcomes for pupils, staff and families. As more schools consider how to implement the latest government guidance, the event provided an opportunity to see a practical, proven model in action and hear directly from those experiencing its benefits every day.

Link to the ITV News coverage:
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/theres-nothing-to-distract-you-students-reflect-on-12-months-of-going-phone-free-at-school/6ddqs84

Louise Blundell, Headteacher at Gordano School, said: “Going fully phone-free has had a real impact on daily life at Gordano School. We have seen pupils more focused in lessons, more present with one another, and better able to engage with school life throughout the day. It has also been encouraging to hear from parents that the benefits are being felt at home too. Today has been a valuable opportunity to share what we have learned with other schools across the South West as they consider the best approach for their own communities.”

Graham Dugoni, CEO and Founder of Yondr, said: “Events like this demonstrate the growing momentum behind phone-free schools in the UK. School leaders are recognising that creating these focused, distraction-free environments helps build a culture where pupils can truly connect with their learning and each other.”