By Iain Gray

Copyright newsletter

Around 8,000 young people attend the nine of the province’s schools involved in the government-run pilot scheme, which has pupils magnetically sealing their phones in special pouches at the start of every day. The pouches can only be opened with a specific unlocking device, meaning pupils can’t get at their mobiles. Education Minister Paul Givan says the scheme will allow officials to check if stopping phone use in the classroom could improve concentration and boost wellbeing. Pupils who need access to their phones for reasons such as health or disability will be allowed exemptions. The experiment began this month and lasts until March next year. If it works, the system could be rolled out across the whole of Northern Ireland. During a visit to one of the schools taking part in the pilot programme, St Ronan’s College in Lurgan, Mr Givan said parents and teachers alike have a “growing unease about the amount of time young people spend on smartphones”, while research increasingly indicates a link between “excessive” mobile use and declining mental health among adolescents. “In response, I committed to piloting a phone-free solution that would prevent pupils from using their devices during the school day, helping them to fully engage with learning, social interaction, and all aspects of school life,” he said. Some schools in Northern Ireland have already introduced their own individual phone bans, though Mr Givan says the new experiment will provide “a consistent, evidence-based approach”. “This pilot will help us understand what works best and how we can support schools to make changes that benefit pupils, boosting wellbeing, focus and academic achievement,” he added. “Pupils involved in the pilot scheme will place their phones in a pocket-sized fabric pouch with a magnetic latch that is sealed at the beginning of the school day and opened using a special unlocking base. This will ensure pupils cannot use their phones during the school day and will allow us to evaluate the impacts of reduced usage. “I want to provide reassurance that flexibility will be provided for those students who need access to their smartphone during the school day for reasons of health, disability or other needs.” King’s College London has been appointed to carry out an evaluation of the phone-free pilot. The prestigious university’s analysis of its effectiveness and outcomes will be used as evidence to inform future decisions. Said Mr Givan: “This is a pilot initiative, and every aspect of using lockable pouches during the school day will be independently evaluated. I encourage everyone involved – students, staff, and parents – to share their experiences openly and honestly over the coming months.” A report into the phone-free experiment is due to be published in June 2026. Five of the nine schools taking part – Glenlola Collegiate in Bangor, Friends’ School in Lisburn, St Genevieve’s High School in Belfast, St Fanchea’s College in Enniskillen and St Ronan’s College, Lurgan – go live with the pilot this month. Larne High School, Belfast’s Hazelwood Integrated College, Markethill High School and St Joseph’s Boys School in Londonderry should start in the coming weeks.