The Canterbury Academy Trust has embarked on an innovative trial aimed at restricting smartphone use among its Year 10 students, following similar initiatives at two schools in Kent. Jon Watson, chief executive officer of The Canterbury Academy Trust is very hands on in the delivery of the trial. What’s more, he is taking part in it himself. The initiative aims to respond to increasing worries over the damaging effects that smartphones are having on teenagers’ mental health and overall well-being.
The trial, which goes past school hours, begins students submitting their smartphones. Most students, including Molly and Emilia, used terms such as “scary” to describe the experience. Beyond that, respondents experienced something that caught our attention — a sense of “relief.” Emilia noted, “I think it’s going to improve our mental health and mental wellbeing because you’re not constantly looking at your phone.” This feeling matches with the trial’s bigger aims. The trial is designed to provide students with a temporary relief from the burden of being always-connected.
The Canterbury Academy Trust is already applying a ban on phone use during school hours. This trial extends well beyond the school day. It’s intended to support teachers’ efforts to make sure students are able to unplug from their devices when they return home. Over the next few months, many more schools will join the initiative, creating a wider movement across the region.
In September, a summit will convene teachers from various schools across Kent to discuss a cross-county approach to smartphone usage among students. This partnership is London-wide, with six primary schools and over 5,000 parents and caregivers in Kent. Jointly, the three of them agree to delaying smartphones for teens until Year 9 and curtailing social media use for two years longer than that.
Jon Watson expressed the importance of this initiative: “It’s about helping young people understand the power and responsibility they have when they are in possession of a smartphone, how positive they can be in terms of what they can do, but some of the negatives and some of the challenges they’ll face while they have that mobile phone as well.” His commitment to setting an example by participating in the trial highlights the leadership’s dedication to fostering a healthier relationship with technology among students.
Dr. Lindsey Cameron, who is deeply engaged in the ongoing trial. She urges people to learn more about how smartphone use is related to anxiety and depression. We already know there’s a connection between smartphone use and some aspects of mental health, issues with sleep, social comparison, and phones are super addictive. We are really going to have to figure out what impact this is having on children,” she said.
Molly echoed these sentiments by stating, “It’s a nice bit of freedom because you don’t have to constantly be checking your messages and see you’re missing out on things.” Our goal with this clinical trial is to counter some of that stress that smartphone usage has been shown to add. It aims to create a more supportive ecosystem for students working their way through the rapids of adolescence.
