Parent community leading the change
Led by parent Amy Dey, our Delay Smartphones group has been instrumental in encouraging families to delay giving their children smartphones. The aim of the group is to protect children from the dangers of smartphones and started as a pilot campaign in Edinburgh in 2023.
Our strict “no phones” policy has been in place for nearly ten years, meaning there are no phones allowed during the school day at our Junior or Senior School, with our Juniors handing any phones in at the beginning of the school day. Our Seniors know that there are strict sanctions in place for any mobile phone use. The work of our parent group to go one step further and delay smartphones inspired us to get involved and support the movement.
In our April 2024 parent survey data, 46.4% of Primary 4 children were reported as bringing a smartwatch or smartphone to School. At the start of the 2025/26 session, teachers were asked to report on the number of devices handed in at the start of the school day. In Primary 4, this figure was 0. Similar positive trends can be seen across other year groups since Delay Smartphones began their campaign.
Partnership triangle model
At the heart of effective education is a strong partnership between the child, the school, and the home, and this shared approach has been key to creating such a positive change in digital habits across our community.
If you would like to hear more on the topic of mobile phones in Schools, listen to our podcast episode with Principal, Anthony Simpson, and our Head of Digital Learning, Rachel Hewitt, or delve into this article.
