In a bold move aimed at curbing phone addiction among its students, the All Saints Catholic College in Notting Hill, London, has unveiled plans to extend the school day to 12 hours.
Under the new schedule, students will be required to arrive at school by 7 am and remain until 7 pm. These additional hours will be dedicated to a variety of activities, including sports, art, drama, and cookery lessons.
Head teacher Andrew O'Neill, the architect behind the initiative, hopes that the extended timetable will provide students with alternative avenues for engagement and ultimately break the grip of what he refers to as a "100 per cent phone addiction."
This latest measure builds upon previous efforts by All Saints to address phone usage among its student body. In 2016, the school implemented a policy banning mobile phones from being carried by pupils, requiring them to be stored in bags or lockers during school hours.
However, O'Neill believes that more drastic action is necessary to combat the pervasive issue of phone dependency. He expressed concern over the long-term consequences of unchecked phone usage, emphasizing its potential impact on future workplaces and society at large.
Describing the extent of phone addiction among students, O'Neill remarked, "Some of the most shocking things I have ever seen were on the phones of pupils." He cited instances of cyberbullying, sexting, and even blackmail affecting some of the school's 900 students.
Statistics from Ofcom reveal that by the age of 12, a staggering 97 per cent of children possess their own mobile phone, underscoring the ubiquity of digital devices among young people.
O'Neill's initiative comes in the wake of government directives aimed at addressing mobile phone usage in schools. In February, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced plans to prohibit mobile phones throughout the school day in England, emphasizing the need to minimize distractions and create conducive learning environments.
As debates surrounding the impact of technology on education continue, initiatives like the one implemented by All Saints Catholic College highlight the proactive measures being taken to foster healthier relationships with digital devices among students. Photo by Betty Longbottom, Wikimedia commons.