Heritage Featured in ITV News Report for Smartphone-Free Approach

Heritage School was highlighted in an ITV News report on Friday, November 22, as a leading example of a school that has banned smartphones from the outset. In the segment, which explored the growing movement against smartphone use among children, Heritage stood out for its longstanding policy.

Headmaster Jason Fletcher explained the rationale: ‘We’ve been smartphone-free since the very beginning because we’ve always seen that attention is fundamental to learning. It’s the gateway to learning, so smartphones and distraction, in a sense, are the enemy of the deep education that we want for our pupils.’

Heritage pupils interviewed in the report echoed this sentiment, remarking on their ability to be more attentive in class and interact with peers at break time, and commenting on the positive impact of the policy for building community in the school.

The story also featured the growing Smartphone-Free Childhood campaign, started by two mothers concerned about the impact of smartphones on children’s mental health and education. Thousands of parents across the UK, including 1,700 in Cambridge, have pledged to delay giving smartphones to their children until the end of Year 9.

The piece further explored how parents are turning to ‘dumb phones’ as a less distracting alternative and included insights from mobile operators and retailers, as well as a look at the upcoming Online Safety Act.

Heritage’s proactive position on smartphones underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where children can flourish academically and socially, free from the distractions of modern technology.

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