Phone free and FOMO free - life at Watson's without mobile phones 

As we enter the final weeks of the summer holidays and prepare for the start of what will be our first full year as a mobile phone free school, Senior School Deputy Head Lesley Dorward reflects on the positive difference our approach has made to school life.

On the last day of the school year, just after Prizegiving and surrounded by proud friends, family and staff, one of our S6 leavers approached our Principal Lisa Kerr to say thank you. This happens a lot on days like this - departing pupils take the time to thank staff who have supported their school journey. But this ‘thank you’ was different. It was a thank you for making Watson’s a mobile phone free environment and for how the change had improved this pupil’s life at school for the better. ‘Better’ in this instance meant a calmer atmosphere, more face to face fun and even a new friend made through a chance conversation in the dining room.  

When we introduced this policy earlier in the term, we knew it was the right thing to do but none of us thought we would get thanks for it from a 17-year-old pupil. But he was right. Becoming a mobile phone-free school has been one of the most significant cultural shifts we’ve made in recent years, and the benefits have been striking. 

The first thing that everyone noticed was that the whole school was just that little bit louder at breaks and lunch time - in a good way.  And that is because we have seen far more pupil interaction at these times. Our pupils are rediscovering simple pleasures: ball games, card games, shared jokes, and even just sitting and talking. The playgrounds and social spaces feel more vibrant and inclusive - more laughter, movement, and genuine connection. 

Our corridors feel different too. Pupils are more present, more likely to greet staff, notice one another, and connect in real time. Eating has become a truly communal activity again. Now that phones are off the table in our dining hall, we see young people engaging face to face, not scrolling side by side, but making eye contact, listening, and laughing. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is vastly reduced because pupils are in the present rather than scrolling social media comparing their insides to someone else’s outside. 

All this has had an impact in the classroom too. Morning form time, once a quieter and more screen-focused part of the day, is now filled with relaxed conversation and social energy. And in lessons, the absence of digital distraction has helped pupils settle more quickly and stay more focused so that teachers and pupils alike enjoy a calmer classroom climate overall 

The whole school day feels calmer, more human, and surprisingly more relaxed. 

This matters because evidence increasingly points to the negative impact of mobile phones in a learning environment.  A recent study of school and college students found that 7 in 10 say their phone use is harming their academic performance and over 75% believe their mental health is suffering as a result. The same study revealed that the average student now spends 5.5 hours per day on their phone - the equivalent to 25 waking years of their lifetime.  

We can’t influence screen time outside school and there is no doubt that we live in a world where digital skills are vital. But we believe that by taking this step, as well as starting to introduce managed devices for some pupils when we start the new term in a few weeks, Watson’s can continue to be a safe, inclusive and distraction free environment where our pupils thrive. In becoming a mobile phone-free environment, we haven't just taken something away. We’ve made space for something far more valuable: presence, connection, and the pleasure of being together.