Smartphone Free at KS1, 2 & 3

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Smartphone Free at KS1, 2 & 3 event, held in partnership with PAPAYA TALKS, Smartphone Free Childhood, Dr Paul Redford and Dr Ben Knight at UWE and Max Wilkinson, MP for Cheltenham.

It was a powerful evening where more than 250 parents and headteachers from schools across Cheltenham came together to show our collective and united approach to tackling the negative impact that smartphones can have on our young people. You'll find the full set of slides on the link below.

In Gloucestershire, 2,953 from 282 schools have signed the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact to date (correct 25.09.25). If you'd like to pledge your commitment to delaying smartphones and social media you can sign the pact here. It takes 30 seconds - and might just change the world!

We were very proud to host such an important event. It was a powerful evening and I know that by working together and taking collective action, we can make a positive change.

- Mrs Lees, Assistant Headteacher, Cheltenham Bournside School

The speakers were highly knowledgeable and presented the information with great clarity, making it accessible and engaging for everyone in attendance. Their insights were both thought-provoking and motivating, and I am confident they inspired many to recognise the urgency of taking action.

 - Primary Headteacher

Informative, inspiring and insightful.

 - Parent

A new campaign to delay the use of smartphones at Bournside and in our feeder schools until students reach (at least) Year 10

"February 2025 marks the start of our "Smartphone Free at KS1,2 and 3" campaign. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Working with local primary schools we're encouraging families to hold off giving their children smartphones until they reach Year 10. Of course, it's not for us to tell parents what they can or cannot do with their children - that's certainly not what we're trying to do! However, we know from countless conversations with parents that they'd like to be able to hold off giving their children phones but, because "everybody's doing it" it's really difficult to say, "No". So we're hoping that by running this campaign, you'll know that if you choose to hold off giving your children a smartphone until the start of Year 10, you have our support.

For students that already have a smartphone (or a phone of any kind), the rules have not changed. All mobile phones should be switched off before coming into school and must not be taken out or used during the school day.

One thing that will be good for you to know: your son or daughter will not need a smartphone to access any of the websites or apps that are used at KS3 (Year 7 - 9). We've carefully audited our curriculum and have checked that all the systems we use can be accessed via a computer or through parents' phones on their child's behalf.

You’ll find the first “Smartphone Free at KS1, 2 and 3" letter below and if you’d like to pledge your support - which we'd really welcome - please sign the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact online."

- Mr Jefferies, Headteacher

Smartphone at KS1, 2 & 3 Letters

Resources