Local schools are celebrating the start of a town-wide initiative which will see smartphones banned from local schools.

Last month the 'Kenilworth Consortium' - which includes primary schools across the town as well as Kenilworth School and Sixth Form - made the announcement to parents that a collective effort was being made to stop smartphones being used.

The initiative was officially started at this week's launch week which featured events across the town.

The move will see a new policy for primary schools start in September 2026 which will ban smartphones in local primary schools.

From September 2027, when the current Year 5 year group transitions to Kenilworth School, smartphones will not be permitted on the secondary school site for this cohort.

Speaking this week, CEO of Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust Hayden Abbott said: "This is an excellent town wide initiative showing collaboration between the Kenilworth Consortium of primary and secondary school and a natural development of the current policy at Kenilworth School which involves students being expected to have phones kept in a pouch and not in use.

"This is the next step which means smart phones will be expected to not be brought onto site from September 2027 when the current year 5s transition into Kenilworth School."

Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust has already been trialling a no-phones policy at both Kenilworth School and Westwood Academy, which has already been labelled a success.

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The launch week has featured an assembly for the 300 year 5 children across Kenilworth, at Kenilworth School, talking about the move to the no smartphones policy.

A parent information session was also organised, as well as classroom learning in primary schools and a 'pupil summit'.

A letter to parents last month said: "Across schools in Kenilworth Consortium, we remain increasingly aware of the growing concerns around childhood smartphone use, particularly its impact on children's wellbeing, mental health, concentration, sleep, and social development. 

"As schools, we continue to see these effects first-hand, and we are committed to a shared, town wide approach that supports families in making informed decisions about smartphone use from childhood through adolescence. 

"We are pleased to share the roll out of the Kenilworth Community Smartphone Initiative, beginning with a dedicated launch week on Monday 20 April. 

"This forms an important step in our collective work across primary and secondary schools to create consistent expectations and reduce pressures around smartphone ownership."

The letter was signed by Mr Abbott, as well as the head teachers of:

• Burton Green C of E Academy
• Clinton Primary School
• Kenilworth School
• Priors Field Primary School
• St John's Primary School
• St. Augustine's
• St. Nicholas Primary School
• Thorns Infant School and Park Hill Junior School

"This policy will then apply to all younger transition year groups, ensuring a consistent experience as children move through the education system," the letter continued.

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