NI schools to provide secure pouches for pupils’ phones

“We want to see them connecting with each other, being present in the moment.”

Victoria College in Belfast will provide its 900 pupils with magnetic pouches in which they will have to keep their mobile phones during the school day.

School principal Karen Quinn told BBC News NI the move is to help pupils become “good communicators”.

On Thursday, students and parents were informed about the phone pouch scheme.

In a letter to parents, Ms Quinn said that, as well as phones, the pouches can also store other devices such as smart watches and ear pods.

“We believe this investment will help reduce the temptation for students to access their personal mobile devices during the school day,” they wrote.

He said phones “can have a detrimental impact on their engagement in learning, social engagement at breaks and lunches and their overall mental health and well-being”.

Mrs Quinn told BBC News NI that the policy does not stop pupils from bringing mobile phones to school, “but they should not use them during the day”.

“When they have their phone and we know they’re using it, there’s still a temptation, so we’ve decided to purchase pouches that are safe for students,” she said.

“What we’re going to do is use these pouches to support our policy as well as teach them how to use their phones responsibly.”

Sarah is a sixth form student at Victoria College and says she will struggle to get used to the change but ultimately feels it will help her studies.

“The school has our best interests in mind and we will thank them for this digital detox when we get our results in the future,” he said.

Connie, another student at the school, said that although she was “surprised at first” she now thinks there will be “long-term benefits”.

“Even if not for us, because we’re leaving soon, for the little years as they grow up.

“They seem to be quite excited about it, asking if they can decorate pouches and things like that. So it’s also good to look to them for inspiration to have a positive attitude about it.”

Charlotte is also a student at Victoria College and said she was “quite scared at first”.

“But hearing more about it now, I would really appreciate it when it comes to my test results because I struggle with my phone sometimes,” Charlotte told BBC News NI.

“It would be better to put my phone aside and not get distracted at all,” he said.

Students will have to keep their phones in their bags as soon as they enter school.

“It locks and you need a magnet to open it,” Ms. Quinn said.

“Teachers will have access to a magnet, so it can be opened if we want to use the phone for teaching and learning.

“At the end of the day we will have magnets around the school and students will open their bags as they come out.”

The school told students about the bag plans during an assembly.

Ms Quinn said the reaction from pupils was “about what you would expect”.

“They have questions, they’re nervous, they’re excited,” he said.

“We ask them to keep an open mind and join us so we can make it right for the college.

“Already we have had students stop by my office or stop staff and make suggestions.

“There will be students for whom this will create some uncertainty and we just want to work with them and bring everyone along.”

Education Minister Paul Givhan did Northern Ireland schools were previously advised Banning students from using mobile phones during school days.

But they plan to buy pouches to stop the use of mobile phones in schools had to face criticism,

However, Ms Quinn said Victoria College had decided to provide phone pouches to students long before the minister made the move.

“We’ve been working on this for less than a year,” he said.

The school has financed the pouches for the pupils from its own budget.

“The cost of a bag is slightly less than the cost of most GCSE or A-level textbooks,” Ms Quinn said.

“We chose an option within our current budget to make this a priority, but the school budget is tight.”