On 16 March 2026, Kent College Pembury in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, shared details on its policy to create a smartphone-free environment for its students. The school requires all pupils from Year 7 to Year 11 to hand in their personal mobile devices to their form tutors at the start of every school day.
Each phone is kept in a secure, padded metal storage box and is only returned to the student when the final bell rings in the afternoon. This practice is designed to protect children from the pressure of constant digital notifications and the temptation to look at screens during their free time.
In a reflection on the policy, the head of the school, Katrina Handford, explained that the goal is to encourage genuine childhood experiences. By removing personal phones, the school has seen students return to physical play and face-to-face socialising, such as using the playground swings during lunch breaks.
While personal smartphones are restricted, students still use technology for their academic work through school-provided Surface Pro devices. These tablet computers are issued to every senior pupil and are managed and monitored by the school to ensure they are used safely for learning purposes.
The policy comes as Kent College Pembury continues its transition to becoming a fully co-educational school for both day and boarding pupils. School leaders stated that limiting phone use helps maintain a focused and friendly community atmosphere during this period of growth.
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