Harrogate primary school to become 'smartphone-free school' after Government's social media ban

Willow Tree Primary School’s Headteacher Robert Mold said it had made the decision in the interests of pupils, parents and the school.

"Everything we do at Willow Tree is rooted in our commitment to create a nurturing environment where every child can grow up happy, safe and thriving,” said Mr Mold.

"Like many parents, we are concerned about the impact of smartphones and social media on children's wellbeing and attention

"By taking this decision, we are supporting parents who wish to delay getting their child a smartphone, by lessening the peer pressure to have one, and reducing the amount of time children spend on screens and online during their walk to and from school.”

In a landmark address yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer said all under-16s would be banned from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, by spring 2027, saying it was the best way to keep them safe from harmful content online.

"Social media is making children unhappy," said the Prime Minister.

It is "designed to be addictive" with features that "lock you in for hours," he added.

Part of Northern Star Academies Trust, Willow Tree Primary School in Harrogate points to a recent national survey showing that nine in ten parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16, and two-thirds of young people agreed that children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms.

The new rules at Willow Tree Primary School mean in practice that:

Children in year 5 and year 6 may bring a basic call-and-text phone if it is required for their journey to and from school.

Basic phones must:

Contain no internet access, apps, or camera functionality.

Be handed in at the school office each morning and collected at the end of the day.

A Nokia 105 phone meets these requirements and can be purchased for less than £25.

Smart devices, including any device capable of accessing the internet, taking photographs, or sending messages via apps, will be treated as prohibited items.

Any such device brought onto the school site will be confiscated and held securely until collected by a parent or carer.

Headteacher Robert Mold said: “Across the country, a growing number of families are choosing to delay giving their children smartphones, and a growing number of schools are supporting them to do so.

"At Willow Tree, we want to be part of that shift.

"We know from conversations with parents that many families share the same instinct that their child is not yet ready, but feel the decision is harder to make alone.”

Willow Tree Primary School said, where children had medical needs that require the use of a smartphone, it would be in touch with parents directly to put appropriate arrangements in place to safeguard their health.

Mr Mold said that 'Brick' phones – without internet access or cameras - would be allowed for children who walk themselves to/from school.

Parents can buy tracking devices such as AirTags if they wish to have an updated location for their child.