15 July 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we look ahead to the next academic year and continue to reflect on how we can best support our students’ academic progress, social development, and overall wellbeing, I am writing to share an important update to our daily routines.
As you may recall from my communication in January, we have always had a strong, consistently implemented, and effective mobile phone policy at Durham Johnston. Indeed, we were proud to be one of the first schools in the local area to introduce a "not visible on site" rule. When the Department for Education (DfE) issued its strengthened guidance on mobile phones in schools last year, we committed to taking the necessary time to review it fully in the context of our school before making any adaptations.
As a diverse school serving a geographically wide area, with a large Sixth Form, we have carefully considered all aspects of this decision, including recent changes in legislation, whilst keeping the best interests of our students at the heart of our process. Following this thorough review, we are now ready to take the next step.
In September, Durham Johnston Comprehensive School will transition to a fully phone-free space for all students in Years 7 to 11.
We have always championed an environment of deep academic focus, intellectual curiosity, and genuine, face-to-face social interaction through our social times and extra-curricular offer. We believe that by completely removing screen-based distractions during the school day, we will take a vital step in safeguarding the excellent educational experience we aspire to provide for every young person at our school.
What will this look like in practice?
To ensure a smooth transition, we are introducing a lockable pouch system. This is a simple, secure method that allows students to keep physical possession of their mobile phones or smart devices while ensuring they remain completely inaccessible during school hours.
Upon entering the school site, students will place their phone (and any other smart devices such as watches, wireless headphones etc) into their pouch and lock it. During the school day the locked pouch must be stored securely inside the student's school bag or their blazer. Students will unlock their pouches using designated unlocking stations positioned near the exit gates at the end of the school day, or after extra-curricular activities if they are staying later.
When will it start?
The introduction of the pouches will be rolled out across Years 7 to 11, one year group at a time, over the course of the first half term. This staggered timeline will help our school community adapt to this new routine. Further information will be provided on the dates and order of the roll out at the start of next year.
Where can I purchase a pouch?
The mobile phone pouch will be added as an item to the school uniform policy and is compulsory for all students who bring a mobile phone (or other smart devices) on site. Parents and carers will be able to purchase a mobile phone pouch for their child via ParentPay from tomorrow (16th July), throughout the summer break, and again in the first full week back. Whilst schools do not receive external funding to implement these safety measures, we have worked to keep the price for families as low as possible; each mobile phone pouch will cost £10.50. Purchased pouches will be issued to students on the first day of implementation for each year group. Students are expected to keep their pouch in clean, working condition. If a pouch is lost or damaged, a new pouch must be purchased via ParentPay.
If your child is eligible for pupil premium or if your family requires financial assistance with this purchase, please contact us via school@durhamjohnston.org.uk with ‘Mobile Phone Pouches’ in the subject line.
Core Guidelines and Expectations
Our policies will reflect this change, and updated versions will be published on the school website in September. The key points are summarised below:
- The policy is mandatory for all students in Years 7 to 11.
- Bringing a phone to school is not compulsory; students are welcome to leave their devices safely at home. In this case a pouch is not required.
- Pouches that have been tampered with or damaged cannot be used. A replacement must be purchased via ParentPay. If a student loses their pouch, again, a replacement must be purchased via ParentPay. Until a replacement is secured, the student must either hand their phone in at the start of each day to be collected at 2:45 pm, or choose not to bring their phone to school.
- Students with specific, verified medical needs requiring access to a mobile device will be supported with bespoke arrangements. These will be discussed directly with families on an individual basis.
If a student is found carrying or using an unsecured mobile device or smart device on school grounds, the item will be confiscated. In these instances, the device will need to be collected from the school office by a parent or carer. Breaches will be treated as a disciplinary matter and sanctioned in line with our Behaviour Policy.
Communication and Emergency Contact
We understand that parents occasionally need to contact their children during the day. If you have an urgent message for your child, please contact the main school office. Our administrative team will ensure that messages are passed on promptly, ensuring effective communication without interrupting the flow of learning in our classrooms. As happens presently, if a student needs to contact home during the school day, they can do so by visiting main reception during their social times, where a member of staff will assist them.
Sixth Form Expectations
As noted during our review process, our large Sixth Form requires a different approach. Our Sixth Form students will not be required to use mobile phone pouches, reflecting their transition into independent young adulthood. However, they will be expected to model responsible behaviour by using their devices strictly within designated Sixth Form study and social areas. Any misuse of devices outside these areas will be addressed by the Sixth Form team.
By working together in partnership with you our parents and carers, we are confident that this will be a positive step that will help us maintain the strong, focused, and respectful learning culture that is at the heart of our school.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs McFadden
Headteacher