21 May 2025
The Smartphone Free Childhood campaign continues to gain momentum with the news that another St Albans school is set to impose a ban on the devices.
Fleetville Junior School headteacher Clare Whitehouse made the announcement to parents at the Hatfield Road school this afternoon.
This time last year, when the St Albans Primary Schools Consortium of local primary headteachers issued a joint letter calling on parents not to let their children have a smartphone before they are 14, the Spiral Partnership Trust – which oversees both Fleetville Infants and Nursery School and Fleetville Junior School – ruled out a ban.
But now from September 2025, no child will be allowed to bring a smartphone into Fleetville Junior School – even to hand in to their teacher. Children in Year 6 who travel home alone will be allowed to bring a tracker and/or basic phone that does not connect to the internet.
Mrs Whitehouse said: “Following on from parent feedback, discussions with staff and from the policies already in place regarding smartphones, the school has made the decision that Fleetville will move towards being a smartphone-free school.
“We carefully considered the impact this will have on parents who wished their children to bring a smartphone to and from school, but felt this is outweighed by wider considerations and the availability of alternative non-smartphones and trackers for safety.
“In line with the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, we recommend as a school that parents do not give their children smartphones under the age of 14.”
There will be no change to current school policy until September 2025, and pupils in Year 6 who currently travel home alone and therefore bring their smartphones to school will face no restrictions for the rest of the academic year.
Mrs Whitehouse added: “We believe primary school should be a time for active learning, creativity and real-world friendships. Smartphones, even when not in use, can create passive habits – like endless scrolling or checking for notifications – that can take away from the rich, hands-on experiences children need to grow.
“The devices we use in school are very different. They’re learning tools, used at specific times with clear purpose. Teachers guide how they’re used and they support children in thinking, creating and problem-solving – not just consuming. This helps us keep technology meaningful and ensures it supports a childhood full of curiosity, connection and play.”
