Parents in Hove State school told to buy £25 magnetic-secured pouches to lock ... trends now
Parents have been told they need to buy £25 pouches to lock up their children's mobile phones after teachers spent 'too much time enforcing' an existing smartphone ban.
Cardinal Newman School, in Hove, has told parents that all pupils will need to have magnetic-secured pouches, come September, as part of its uniform policy.
Smartphone devices will be locked away inside the pouches at the start of the school day so they cannot be accessed until students go home.
The policy is still under consultation, but plans are being introduced as teachers were spending too much time having to enforce an existing smartphone ban at the school.
The pouches, manufactured by the America company Yondr, aim to create 'distraction-free experiences' and are used by teachers, business owners and artists.
In a letter to parents, seen by The Argus newspaper, Principal Claire Jarman said: 'As a school we are increasingly concerned about the impact of smartphones on our young people.
'Students receive up to three strikes per half term until they are required to hand in their phones to staff. Speaking bluntly, this is not working. Too many students at Cardinal Newman School are disregarding the rule and failing to hand in when required.
Principal Claire Jarman (pictured) told parents in a letter to buy magnetic-secured pouches for their children's smartphones
Cardinal Newman Catholic School and Newman College in Hove, Brighton (pictured)
The Yondr pouch which locks mobile phones away for a period of time to prevent distractions
'This is, in turn, creating a huge workload for our staff – time and energy we would prefer to be focusing on supporting students in more positive ways.'
According to The Argus, the letter reported that the cost of a pouch would be around £25.
One prospective parent supported the move and said it was a 'reliable way to monitor phone use'.
It was previously reported by MailOnline that schools who were making the move to lock away students' phone during the daytime had been receiving a surprising response from pupils, who said they actually enjoyed having less screen time.
Students at Wauchope High School on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, have been locking their phones in Yondr electronic pouches from 9am to 3.30pm since May 6.
Student suspensions dropped by a third and negative incidents dropped by 10 per cent during a four-week trial of the technology.
Wauchope Principal Glen Sawle said students showed 'maturity' in making the school 'a phone free zone' in a school newsletter.
Parents widely supported the Yondr program, which is also used for concerts, stand-up comedy and private events.
School Captain Caitlin Miller said she has noticed a massive
