Ballyclare school showcases impact of phone-free learning model

School leaders listening to presentations from staff and students

Ballyclare Secondary School has opened its doors to school leaders from across Northern Ireland to demonstrate what life looks like without mobile phones during the school day — and staff say the results have been “remarkable”.

The County Antrim school has been operating a phone-free system since August 2025 using lockable Yondr pouches, becoming one of the first schools in the area to adopt the approach amid growing debate around the impact smartphones are having on pupils’ concentration, behaviour and wellbeing.

School leaders visiting the school on Tuesday were given the chance to see the system in action firsthand, hear directly from pupils and staff, and explore how a similar model could work in their own schools.

Inside Ballyclare’s phone-free school day

Under the Yondr system, pupils place their phones into lockable pouches at the beginning of the school day.

The pouches remain in pupils’ bags throughout lessons and break times and are unlocked at the end of the day before students leave school grounds.

Importantly, pupils still keep possession of their phones and can access them while travelling to and from school — something many families consider essential for safety and communication.

School leaders say the approach is designed to remove distraction without creating conflict around confiscation or enforcement.

According to the school, the impact has already been visible across classrooms and social spaces.

Staff report improved concentration during lessons, fewer distractions, stronger pupil engagement and more face-to-face interaction between students during break times.

The initiative has also received support from parents and carers, with the school saying the wider atmosphere throughout the school day has noticeably changed.

‘A profound impact on school life’

Ballyclare Secondary School staff member with students and Yondr pouches

Welcoming visiting education leaders to Ballyclare Secondary School, Acting Principal Wendy Shingleton said the change since introducing the system had been significant.

She said:

“Going phone-free has had a profound impact on life at Ballyclare Secondary School. The change in atmosphere has been remarkable.

“Pupils are more present in lessons, more engaged with each other during breaks, and our staff have noticed a real shift in the quality of interaction in the classroom.

“We were delighted to open our doors to colleagues to show what a phone-free school looks like in practice.

“The conversation around phones in schools is growing, and we hope that today gives other leaders the confidence to take the same step.”

The visit comes at a time when schools across the UK and Ireland are increasingly examining the role smartphones play in classrooms, amid concerns around distraction, social media pressure, online bullying and declining attention spans among young people.

For many schools, balancing safeguarding, communication with parents and educational focus has become an increasingly difficult challenge.

Growing interest across Northern Ireland

Tuesday’s event highlighted growing interest among school leaders in exploring alternatives to unrestricted phone use during the school day.

Representatives attending the Ballyclare event were able to speak directly with staff and pupils about the practical realities of implementing the system, including how it is managed day-to-day and how pupils adapted to the change.

Graham Dugoni, CEO and founder of Yondr, said schools internationally were increasingly recognising the value of distraction-free learning environments.

He said:

“Events like this demonstrate the growing momentum behind phone-free schools.

“School leaders are recognising that creating focused, distraction-free environments helps build a culture where pupils can truly connect with their learning and each other.”

Yondr first introduced its phone-free model in schools in 2014 and says more than three million pupils now use the system across the UK, the United States and more than 55 countries worldwide.

The programme combines lockable pouches with policy guidance, communications support and tracking tools aimed at helping schools measure the impact of reduced phone access during the school day.

According to Yondr, schools using the system have reported improvements in classroom engagement, academic performance and social interaction, alongside reductions in behavioural issues and cyberbullying.

As debate around smartphone use in education continues to intensify, Ballyclare Secondary School’s experience is likely to draw increasing attention from schools searching for ways to improve focus, behaviour and pupil wellbeing inside the classroom.