Barnet Leads the Way: First London Borough to Ban Smartphones in Schools

Barnet will become the first London borough to ban smartphones in schools starting September 2025, affecting 63,000 students across 103 primary and 23 secondary schools. Some schools will enforce a complete ban, while others will impose restrictions. Smartwatches will also be prohibited, though basic “brick” phones will be allowed for commuting students. The move aims to address concerns over social media’s impact on children’s mental health, focus, and academic performance. Ofcom reports that 32% of young children use social media unsupervised, with many encountering harmful content.

The Smartphone Free-Childhood Barnet initiative is led by schools and supported by the local authority. Most secondary schools will prohibit Year 7 students from bringing smartphones or smartwatches. Research suggests children aged 11-15 are highly vulnerable to social media’s negative effects. Parents are encouraged to delay giving smartphones until age 14 and social media access until age 16.

CONTENTS:

• Barnet Becomes First London Borough to Ban Smartphones in Schools
• Barnet Schools Move Toward a Smartphone-Free Environment

Barnet Leads the Way: First London Borough to Ban Smartphones in Schools: The Smartphone Free-Childhood Barnet initiative is led by schools and supported by the local authority. Most secondary schools will prohibit Year 7 students from bringing smartphones or smartwatches. Research suggests children aged 11-15 are highly vulnerable to social media’s negative effects. Parents are encouraged to delay giving smartphones until age 14 and social media access until age 16.

Barnet Leads the Way: First London Borough to Ban Smartphones in Schools

Barnet Becomes First London Borough to Ban Smartphones in Schools

Barnet will become the first London borough to enforce a smartphone ban in schools, starting in September 2025. This policy will impact 63,000 students across 103 primary schools and 23 secondary schools, with some schools implementing a full ban while others introduce restrictions on usage.

Smartwatches will also be prohibited, though students will be allowed to carry basic “brick” phones for communication with parents during their commute. The decision comes amid growing concerns over the negative effects of social media on children’s mental health, attention span, and academic performance.

Statistics from Ofcom reveal that nearly a quarter of five to seven-year-olds own a smartphone, with 32% using social media unsupervised. Additionally, a third of children aged eight to seventeen have encountered distressing content online, with many experiencing negative interactions.

A spokesperson for Barnet Education & Learning Services emphasized the influential role of schools in shaping norms, stating that a significant number of Barnet schools are committed to creating smartphone-free environments.

Barnet Schools Move Toward a Smartphone-Free Environment

Schools in Barnet are working towards becoming smartphone-free as part of a new initiative aimed at reducing smartphone use among students.

Although the Smartphone Free-Childhood Barnet initiative is being driven by schools, the local authority has backed the effort by supporting a borough-wide letter sent to parents of approximately 63,000 pupils, encouraging schools to eliminate smartphone use by September 2025.

From that date, most secondary schools in Barnet will prohibit incoming Year 7 students from bringing smartphones or smartwatches to school.

The council highlighted research indicating that children aged 11 to 15 are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of social media and internet access via smartphones. As a result, parents are being urged to delay giving children smartphones until at least age 14 and to restrict social media access until they turn 16.