JOHN Kyrle High School has confirmed the rollout of its mobile-phone pouch scheme following a successful trial at the end of the last academic year.

The trial has been hailed as a ‘real success’ with students themselves reporting a feeling of a greater sense of focus in class, a sentiment echoed by teaching staff who state that the students’ attention span has vastly improved.

The students keep possession of their device at all times, but it is placed into magnetic pouch, which is locked. But concealed within the fabric is special material that blocks phone signals.

A number of unlocking points, using technology similar to that used in supermarkets, have been placed towards the school exits, to which students can release their phones from the pouches.

The school stated this week that following the success of the trial, that the scheme has become a permanent fixture and from the start of this term, the students have been securing their phones in pouches during the school day.

This latest step comes on the back of excellent exam results with both GCSE and A-level outcomes this summer showing year-on-year improvement, reflecting the hard work of students and staff.

Headteacher Julian Morgan said that the scheme to provide each pupil has involved a relatively small investment, but it has already had a big return with the mental health of the students being improved and their attention span has increased during lessons.

He added that the school believes the pouch scheme will help it sustain the current academic momentum while also strengthening students’ wellbeing.

Mr Morgan said that the phone pouch was one of the most talked about innovations after the trial had taken place, involving all students in years seven, eight, nine and ten.

This three-week trial period enabled the school community to learn valuable lessons, gather feedback, and make any necessary adjustments.

Mr Morgan added: “It is a simple but powerful way to return focus to the classroom, reduce distractions and support student wellbeing. We’ve consulted with pupils and parents over the roll out of this scheme.”

Dr Luke Moseley, the school’s deputy headteacher who instigated the project after discovering the students were finding it harder to concentrate in lessons, said: “We’re serious about moving forward in both education and wellbeing.

“The pouch scheme isn’t about punishment; it’s about creating an environment where students can concentrate and get the best out of their day.”

Evidence from other schools suggests the approach works. John Kyrle High is not the first school to implement the scheme in Herefordshire, but it is now leading the way nationally.

“There are always going to be students who try it on by exploring the boundaries because mobile phones are addictive,” admitted Dr Moseley.

“The overall objective is reducing distractions to learning. We are already seeing improved interaction with teachers and other students. There are now fewer pastoral issues created by mobile phone use and the improved quality of learning has been significant.”

Research from the London School of Economics found that schools introducing mobile-phone bans saw improved exam results, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.

A Policy Exchange report also highlighted that schools with stricter phone policies often achieved GCSE outcomes one to two grades higher than those without.

Year 11 student Kayleigh Markey said: “I’ve noticed that since we don’t have access to our phones, we’ve been more social interactive with each other.”

Jemima Webb: “Students are no longer hogging certain areas of the school at break times using their phones. We chat with each other instead.”

Noah Price said: “I don’t miss the noise of phone notifications going off. Without it I can concentrate and stay focused on the lesson without being distracted.

Lohla Pacey added: “I didn’t really use my phone at school before the trial started and was not particularly hindered by the trial process. I think most of agree that the pouches mean that we are not being distracted all the time.”

Local primary leaders have also backed the initiative. Dan Brearey, headteacher at Brampton Abbotts, said: “The changes made at John Kyrle High reflect our approach towards mobile phones at primary school level. This can only be seen as a positive step forward towards ensuring that students continue to focus upon their learning at hand within the school day.”

Dr Moseley said that an unlocking station has been positioned outside the school so that if a student forgets to unlock their phone, they could return and unlock it.

This has proved useful, especially when as a practical joke, siblings lock the phones in the pouch, resulting in parents returning to school to get the pouched unlocked.