Mobile Phones

At Lees Brook Academy, we are committed to providing the very best environment for our students to learn, develop and succeed. As part of this commitment, we will become a fully phone-free school from September 2026.

This approach reflects national guidance, Derby City expectations and our ongoing focus on student learning, wellbeing and safety.

Why Are We Introducing This Change?

All decisions at Lees Brook Academy are made with students’ best interests at heart. There is a growing body of evidence showing that mobile phones can have a negative impact on:

• Concentration and attention in lessons
• Academic progress and achievement
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Social interaction and relationships
• Students’ overall engagement with school life

By removing mobile phones from the school day, we can create a calmer, more focused environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive without unnecessary distractions.

How Will the System Work?

From September 2026:

• Students will hand in their mobile phone at the start of each school day.
• Phones will be stored securely in a supervised location throughout the day.
• Phones will be returned to students at the end of the school day.
• Mobile phones will not be accessible to students during lessons, breaktimes or lunchtimes.

This structured approach ensures that mobile phones are not part of the school day, allowing students to focus fully on their learning and on building positive relationships with their peers.

Our Commitment to Parents and Carers

We understand that this is a change from current practice and appreciate that parents and carers may have questions. We would like to reassure families that:

• Communication between home and school will remain strong and effective.
• Mobile phones will be stored securely and supervised throughout the school day.
• Expectations will be applied consistently, fairly and equally to all students.
• Student wellbeing, safety and learning will remain at the centre of all decisions.

Working Together

The support of parents and carers will be vital to the success of this initiative. By working together, we can ensure that Lees Brook Academy continues to be a place where students feel safe, focused, engaged and able to achieve their full potential.