++ Portobello High School and Queensferry High School first in Scotland to roll out Yondr Phone-Free Schools Pilot Programme ++
Edinburgh City Council has become the first local authority in the UK to take action against mobile phones in schools through a pilot scheme with Yondr, the leader in creating phone-free spaces through its comprehensive programme.
Queensferry High School and Portobello High School will be the very first schools in Scotland to implement the Yondr programme, creating a phone-free environment as a result of the pilot. The programme goes beyond the pouches: Yondr pairs its patented pouches with training, programme and policy infrastructure, and ongoing support tailored to its educational partners. The company provides schools with everything they need to create and maintain a phone-free learning environment for their pupils.
The move is backed by new findings from Public First, showing strong support among both parents and teachers for removing phones from the school environment. In its nationally representative poll, eight in ten parents said they support phone-free schools. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of parents said such a policy would reduce distractions for pupils, and 62 per cent believed it would help pupils focus better in class.
Teachers were similarly supportive, with seven in ten saying they would back a phone pouch policy in their own school. Many also pointed to the wider behavioural impact of smartphones, with around three-quarters (72 per cent) identifying phone use as a problem, and nearly half (48 per cent) reporting that at least a quarter of the classes they teach are disrupted by mobile use.
While the Yondr programme is already used by millions of pupils worldwide, this is the first time that a UK council has taken action to introduce the system at a local authority level.
As part of the programme, pupils will place their phones into their Yondr pouch each morning, locking them securely with a magnetic mechanism that can only be opened at special unlocking stations after the final bell. Unlike phone-confiscation policies, this approach allows pupils to retain physical possession of their devices while removing access during school hours, fostering focused learning and meaningful personal interactions.
Lizzie Hacking, Director of External Affairs at Yondr, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with Edinburgh City Council to help create phone-free schools, where pupils can truly engage in their education without the distractions of mobile devices. At Yondr, we believe that phone-free spaces are essential for fostering focused learning and meaningful personal interactions – especially for young learners.”
The pilot will run for the full academic year, with Edinburgh City Council monitoring its impact on learning, behaviour and student wellbeing. Interest is already growing among other local authorities considering a similar approach.
