Kent schools say new Year 7s to be banned from using smartphones

Six Kent secondary schools have announced they are banning new Year 7s from using smartphones, starting in September this year.

The Tunbridge Wells schools include The Skinners’ Kent Academy, Bennett Memorial School, St Gregory’s Catholic School, The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.

In a joint statement, school leaders said the initiative aimed to ensure pupils were “not subjected to harmful content online throughout the entire day”.

They added the scheme also aimed to “support student wellbeing, learning and social development”.