A school will introduce 12-hour days this week in a bid to “break” students' addiction to smartphones.
All Saints Catholic College, a secondary school in Notting Hill, will be open from Tuesdays from 7am to 7pm, offering after-school extracurricular activities.
The school's headteacher, Andrew O'Neill, said he wanted to help children who had spent their entire lives 'attached' to their devices, unable to make eye contact or carry on a conversation.
“This school is trying to break the vicious cycle of kids using phones, which is causing a lot of problems,” he said. Sunday Times.
“We are trying to provide the children with activities in the evenings, rather than going home to their bedrooms and using their phones, the kind of play-based childhood activities I enjoyed growing up in the village of Barton, near Darlington. “
O'Neill, 42, warned that failure to tackle phone abuse could lead to a 'generational' problem in the workplace and society as a whole.
Pupils at the school, which is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, are offered lessons in art, drama, dodgeball, basketball and cooking, as well as a hot dinner after formal classes.
Earlier this year the government announced a crackdown on mobile phone use in schools, but many have already banned their use in class. Guidelines issued in February include principals banning cell phone use throughout the school day, including recess.
The Ministry of Education said, “Many schools across the country are already banning cell phone use and are seeing good results.” “This guidance will ensure a consistent approach across all schools.”
According to Ofcom, by the age of 12, 97% of children will have their own mobile phone.
Cell phone use at school can lead to online bullying, distraction, and classroom disruption, which can ultimately lead to lost learning time.
Last year, UNESCO called for a ban on smartphone use in schools because evidence suggests smartphone use is linked to poor educational performance and excessive screen time has a negative impact on children's wellbeing.