St. Peter’s is a Smartphone Free School. Pupils in Year 5 and 6 can bring a phone to school once this form has been completed. Pupils are not permitted to bring a Smartphone to school. As a school we fully endorse families delaying giving their children a Smartphone until they are at least 13 due to the negative effects these have of the developing brain. These include:
- Poor mental health, such as depression and anxiety
- Issues with attention and sleep
- Risks of cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content like violence or inappropriate material
- Smartphones can be addictive and distract children from learning important life skills
To develop in a healthy and age-appropriate way we advoacte that children CONNECT with family members and peers though in person play and talk. This is especially important between 0-5 years old, before children even start school.
Permitted No-smartphones
Non-smart phones are not able to access the internet/data, WhatsApp or social media and they do not have a touchscreen.
ASDA mobile offer one of the only UK just ‘talk & text’ mobile phone SIM cards with no data for £4 a month.
Ushining F200 flip phone – Classic flip mobile phone style, lightweight, long battery life. £2
Nokia 105 (not the Nokia 105 4G data enabled version) One of the simplest, cheapest handsets – long battery life, torch, snake game and radio. Comes in a variety of colours. £25
Oakcastle F101 Bluetooth, radio & MP3 playback, 7+ Day Battery Life. £18
Smart watches
For parents who like the the tracking features of a smartphone there are some great watches which offer GPS tracking, voice calls and texts without the internet distraction. The KidSafe smart watch is a good example.
Please note at st. Peter’s these are only permitted for pupils in Years 5 & 6 and will need to be handed in at the begining of the day like a mobile phone.
Latest news
January 2026 – Sussex parents Fllod MPs with calls to raise social meida age to 16
December 2025 – Council calls on Government to make primary schools smartphone free BBC News Call for UK-wide primary school smartphones ban
October 2025 – David Smith, Head of Fulham Boys School articulated so clearly, at Shoreham expert panel event last year, this is “a moral issue” , that cannot be ignored.
The Anxious Generation
A graphic novel for older children and teenagers.
Where can I find more information?
Smartphone Free Childhood: https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/
Smartphones: https://delaysmartphones.org.uk/
Online Safety Videos: https://www.knowsleyclcs.org.uk/online-safety-videos/
Helping Families Thrive in the Digital Age: https://www.papayaparents.com/
Netflix documentary ‘Social Dilemma’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0
Channel 4 documentary ‘Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones’: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/swiped-the-school-that-banned-smartphones
The Anxious Generation book and research by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/
Kids, Smartphone and Social Media – talk by Catherine Price: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro-XgHp7OPA
