Blackout- Mobile Phones

GLF Schools were part of a new pilot for new mobile phone technology across four secondary schools to support the wellbeing of students. This initiative, in collaboration with Blackout Technologies, will run for the academic year 2025-26 for students in year 7-10.

This app is a device management tool designed to reduce distractions by restricting access to non-essential apps such as social media, messaging, games, cameras, and browsers during school hours or when a student’s device enters a controlled zone.

Why Are We Launching This Pilot? 

The rise in smartphone usage among young people has been linked to increased anxiety, reduced concentration, and disrupted sleep patterns, as highlighted in the book The Anxious Generation and recent documentaries. While we don’t believe there is a specific issue with phone usage at our schools, we aim to foster healthier habits for our students through this pilot.  Schools across the country have adopted different solutions to this problem, including banning phones.

What is Blackout? 

Blackout is an innovative mobile app that helps students maintain a healthier relationship with their phones. It works by blocking access to distracting apps, including social media, games, and web browsers, during school hours. The app allows essential functions, such as calls, SMS, maps, and calendars, to remain accessible, ensuring students can stay connected with their families for necessary communication. Blackout is available to download from the App Store or Google Play.

During school hours, the app will disable cameras and recording features, and block social media, games, and encrypted messaging platforms, while maintaining access to calls, SMS, maps and calendars. 

The benefits for our pupils include more focus in the classroom, a calmer school environment with fewer phone-related disruptions, and improved wellbeing. 

The use of the app is linked to our whole school behaviour policy.

For more information please visit Blackout Solutions.

We introduced the Blackout App to students in year group assemblies. The slides from this assembly are available here:

 

A Frequently Asked Questions document is available to download below: