Screen wipe

Mobile phone dependency proliferated during lockdown, but is it time to switch off? LARA PECHARD explains her school’s phones-free policy

Young people’s relationships with their mobile phones have changed during the pandemic and, many would argue, not for the better. As a result, many schools have started to ban their use altogether, but is banning the answer? How do we redress the balance and nurture the right behaviours in a way that’s also sensitive to the pressures young people face today?

St Margaret’s has a no-mobile-phone policy. As a result, it is gloriously unusual to see a student using their mobile phone during the school day. I must declare that this initiative was put in place before I arrived as Head. It’s incredibly popular with our parents and staff, and well-respected by our students. When I met with parents at events during my first term I was asked more about my intentions to keep the no-phones policy than anything else. Almost two years later and I wouldn’t change the policy today, there would likely be a walk out if I did! I do, however, have concerns about how we model good behaviour

with phone usage, and I feel we have a duty to our young people to help them find a healthy balance.

Many parents with teenage children will have understandably struggled to maintain routines and rules around mobile-phone time during the lockdowns. As such, teenagers have on the whole, enjoyed or perhaps in some cases endured, more unfettered access.

Given our policy and the impact of lockdown, we’ve started to tackle this issue with staff and parents through training and pastoral webinars. We must consider carefully how we encourage screen-free time and balance. After all, it isn’t just teenagers that have used their phones more in the pandemic; we’ve all found distraction, comfort and social interaction 24/7 through mobile phones. The average teenager will be quick to highlight the hypocrisy of your overuse when challenging theirs, so modelling the right behaviour from the top down has to be a priority.

For parents there are a multitude of concerns; from no let up from peer pressure to image bombardment, as well as an increasing risk of online sexual abuse, grooming and sharing of nude images. For some parents, the phone has been a necessary risk. It might have been essential for the continuity of their teenager’s education, and it may have been the lesser of two evils to keep them connected with their friends and avoid an even greater mental health risk.

So how do we move on from this unquestionable overuse? If my school’s experience is anything to go by, parents prefer it when schools are clear and firm, we make it easier to replicate that at home. Parents benefit when schools make them aware of what they often deny, or simply don’t know is happening. In my career I’ve heard countless times “my child wouldn’t write/ share/post that” only to be presented with the screenshot and the reality sets in. Parents need encouragement to replicate clearer and timed

parameters at home. I do wonder if the weekly screen-time alert that pops up on your phone might be helpful in terms of setting targets, how can I spend this time differently? How can I aim to get my phone use levels down? In fact, this is my next assembly topic! Engaging the whole class or family in this together could have traction.

Tackling the overuse and the need the phone fulfils must be the first aim. All of which will involve time and engagement. We also need more open conversations at school and home about the behaviour that we might not like. We need to do this in a way that attempts to understand, empathise and support our young people, outlining concerns and consequences rather than offering sanction or judgement. Real life cases, anonymised, are always more powerful, such as the health risks around deterioration of eyesight and poor physical health.

Lara Péchard is Headteacher at St Margaret’s School in Hertfordshire

WE’VE ALL FOUND DISTRACTION 24/7 THROUGH MOBILE PHONES. THE AVERAGE TEENAGER WILL be quick to highlight the hypocrisy of your overuse when challenging theirs, SO MODELLING THE RIGHT BEHAVIOUR FROM THE TOP DOWN HAS TO BE A PRIORITY