The trust running Liberty Academy says students will benefit from being free of the ‘constant distraction of phones’
A Hull secondary school is going ‘phone-free’ using a system that has proven popular in the United States and other countries. The trust running Liberty Academy, in Bilton Grove, says the initiative will allow students to “focus fully on learning whilst building stronger relationships with each other and school staff”.
Founded in 2014, Yondr’s system is now used by millions of pupils around the world in around 45 countries. It uses lockable pouches to combat the “constant distraction of phones”.
More than 250,000 pupils across the UK and 2.5 million pupils globally already attend Yondr schools. Each student is assigned their own Yondr pouch to use throughout the school year. Phones and other digital devices are stored securely in them during school hours.
Students keep their pouches in their bag or locker throughout the day and unlock them when they are leaving. This process is “quick, simply and supervised by staff at the start and end of the school day and becomes a new part of the daily routine”, Heartwood Learning Trust says.
It added that it will “now benefit from Yondr’s decade-long expertise in supporting schools with policy, communications, and tracking the success of the phone-free programme in both the short and long term”. A survey conducted in February 2025 by Yondr and Public First found that 72 per cent of teachers view phone use as a persistent school problem and say lesson time is regularly affected. The research also showed that 80 per cent of parents support making schools phone-free environments.
Helen Winn, chief executive officer at Heartwood Learning Trust, said: “We’ve seen how powerful it can be when students are free from digital distractions, and we’re excited to introduce a phone-free environment to all six of our secondary schools. Our students will benefit from the space to think deeply, focus fully on their learning, and connect genuinely with each other and school staff, without the constant distraction of phones.
“It will also allow our school staff to do what they do best – teaching and supporting students, safe in the knowledge that everyone can engage fully throughout the day. Yondr has been an important partner in preparing us for this transformation and their ongoing support will help ensure the success of our phone-free schools in the longer term.
“The team worked closely with our staff to make sure the transition is smooth, positive, and fully supported across every school in the Trust. We’re really looking forward to getting up and running, seeing our students using their Yondr pouches and realising the benefits for everyone over the weeks and months ahead.”
Surveys conducted across Yondr schools worldwide have shown 86 per cent of school leaders reporting improved safety and student wellbeing, with 84 per cent stating there was increased engagement in class, while 44 per cent reported reduced behavioural sanctions.
A spokesperson for Heartwood Learning Trust said the initiative aligns with its “broader commitment to creating learning environments where students thrive”.
They added: “By developing a phone-free school community, the Trust aims to help students develop balanced approaches to technology use in their lives while reducing stress and anxiety linked to constant connectivity online.”