KS3 Blackout Pilot

GLF Schools will be piloting new mobile phone technology across four secondary schools to support the wellbeing of students. This initiative, in collaboration with Blackout Technologies, will run after the February half-term and will involve all students in Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3).

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. 

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

We will assess the impact of the pilot through surveys and feedback from students, parents, and staff. Key metrics include improved focus, reduced disruptions, and enhanced well-being. As with any new technology, there will be learnings throughout the process. The findings will help determine whether this initiative will be expanded more widely. 

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: