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Fred Longworth High School hosts phone-free summit for Manchester schools

  • May 5, 2026
Deputy Headteacher Matt Taylor speaking to school leaders visiting to see Yondr pouches in use.
Deputy Headteacher Matt Taylor speaking to school leaders visiting to see Yondr pouches in use.
School leaders listening to presentations from staff and students.
School leaders listening to presentations from staff and students.
Last week: Last Friday, we hosted a summit to celebrate the success of our Yondr mobile phone-free environment.
Last week: Last Friday, we hosted a summit to celebrate the success of our Yondr mobile phone-free environment.

On Friday 1st May, Fred Longworth High School welcomed local school leaders from across Greater Manchester to see how its fully phone-free approach is improving student focus, behaviour and wellbeing across the school day.

Attendees saw the student arrival and pouching process, followed by presentations on how the school’s phone-free approach is working in practice. It comes as new government guidance states that schools should operate as phone-free environments throughout the whole school day, with many now exploring how to implement phone policies that will comply with government and Ofsted requirements.

Staff and students shared their experiences of the change, with the school reporting improved focus in lessons.

Since October 2025, Fred Longworth High School has used Yondr pouches, allowing students to keep their phones with them while preventing access during the school day. The pouches are locked on arrival and unlocked at the end of the day, creating a clear approach that is applied consistently across the school, reducing the need for staff to check phone use throughout the day.

Staff report that the change has aligned the system with its policy to become completely phone-free. Teachers and staff report having more time to focus on learning and support rather than policing phone use. Students described engaging more in lessons and having better face-to-face interaction with their classmates and teachers. Parents have also noted positive changes at home, including fewer conflicts over phone use.

Paul Davies, Headteacher at Fred Longworth High School, said:

“The positive impact of going phone-free has been remarkable, and today’s event has been a valuable opportunity to share the benefits we’ve seen at Fred Longworth High School with other schools in the region and the wider community. Students and parents have told us that there have been tangible improvements in many areas of daily life as a result of going phone-free, not just in school.”

Graham Dugoni, CEO and Founder of Yondr, said:

“Events like this demonstrate the growing momentum behind phone-free schools in the UK. School leaders are recognising that creating these focused, distraction-free environments helps build a culture where pupils can truly connect with their learning and each other.”

How Yondr Works

Frequently Asked Questions

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. A child at high school should not really have a reason to contact a parent during the day; however, if there is a genuine reason e.g. they have forgotten their packed lunch, a phone call can be made home from the school office. If a parent needs to contact their child in an emergency, they should contact the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office on 01942 883796.

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency procedures.

 

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bag or blazer pockets.

If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, we will confiscate the phone and issue a sanction which is likely to be a suspension.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.

Damaged pouches will be charged to parents at a cost of £20.

They will be searched and wanded with a handheld scanner by a member of SLT. If they are found to have their phone on their person they will be expected to place it in their pouch. Refusal will be met with suspension.

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone will be confiscated.

As per our previous mobile phone policy;

  • Confiscated phones will be taken to reception where the phone will be secured in the school safe.
  • Parents will be alerted to the phone confiscation via the school office.

Parents will have the option to collect the phone at the end of the day. If parents do not collect the phone, the phone will remain in school until the end of the week or until the student has their pouch.

In Yondr’s experience, this almost never happens. All students funnel past the unlocking stations at the exits, they want their phones back and don’t forget to unlock their pouches. If they do arrive home with a phone in a pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!

The unlocking process is quick and takes under a second per student. 

As a privilege, Year 11 will be able to unlock their phones as they go off site at lunchtime; however, they will be expected to put their phones back into their pouches when they return to school for period 5.

Yes. There is an adapted version of the pouch which uses a Velcro fastener instead of a magnetic lock. This means the student still follows the policy, but the adapted pouch gives them easy access to their phone when required. If the student abuses this, they will face a sanction. We are already aware of these students.

Your Office 365 account username is your school network account username followed by @flhs.wigan.sch.uk 
The password is the same password that you use in school to access computers.