Phone-Blocking App Linked to Improved School Grades, Report Suggests
Over 60% of schools using a digital tool to restrict smartphone use saw better examination results, according to an impact assessment.
More than half of secondary schools that implemented an app to restrict student smartphone use have reported improvements in their GCSE grades, a recent report indicates. Specifically, 60 percent of schools utilizing the 'Blackout' application, which renders students' phones inoperable for non-essential functions during school hours, observed a rise in examination outcomes after its introduction.
Teachers in these schools also noted a reduction in phone-related disciplinary actions, an increase in face-to-face student interaction, and a more tranquil classroom environment. The data for Blackout Education's 2025-26 impact assessment was compiled from feedback provided by over 5,000 pupils across English state and independent schools.
The app is designed to block distracting applications such as social media and games during school hours, while still allowing students to make and receive calls and texts from home. This approach contrasts with other methods schools have adopted, including physical lockers or pouches, to manage phone use during the day.
The trend toward reducing smartphone distractions in schools has gained momentum, with a directive earlier this year from the government of Sir Keir Starmer ordering schools to become smartphone-free zones, granting teachers flexibility in implementation.
Educational leaders have expressed varied approaches to phone management. Sam Webster, deputy head at Caterham School, shared that her institution began using Blackout last month, building on an existing policy of phones being kept away during the school day. She emphasized the goal of fostering good digital habits, suggesting that mindful technology use can positively impact students' focus and revision capabilities.
John Jones, director of innovation at the Royal Grammar School in Worcester, commented that Blackout's technology does not 'demonise' mobile phones. A student at Westminster School reported a noticeable decrease in phone usage since the app's implementation.
Some educators advocate for more stringent measures. Katharine Birbalsingh, headmistress at Michaela Community School, advised parents this summer against providing smartphones to their children. Michaela Community School reported that over 50 percent of its GCSE entries received top grades this year, a figure comparable to Eton College, with ten times the national average.
Eton College, a boarding school with fees of £65,000 annually, implemented a strict mobile phone policy two years ago, prohibiting new pupils from bringing smartphones. Instead, incoming 13-year-old boarders were instructed to transfer their SIM cards to basic mobile phones capable only of calls and texts. Last year, nearly 62 percent of Eton's GCSE entries achieved grade 9.
