Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, Fitbits and more

Re:Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, ... by chgs on Monday August 19, 2024 @04:00AM (#41288865)

Our son’s high school (Shropshire) requires a phone - homework is set via app (no website option), sometimes homework requires an app to do it, all comms is via app (so parent also need an app)

They are sometimes told to get their phones out in class to perform work.

In theory phones are banned outside these hours, but unless a teacher is in the room that’s not enforced.

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Re:Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, ... by kwhitefoot on Monday August 19, 2024 @04:18AM (#41288979)

How can a UK school require a mobile as an educational tool? I thought primary and secondary education was supposed to be free in the UK.

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Re:Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, ... by n4r9 on Monday August 19, 2024 @04:46AM (#41289139)

OP may send their child to a private secondary school, like 18% of secondary school students in the UK. Private schools tend to have kids from wealthier backgrounds as well as the resources to provide devices to those who can't afford them.

A friend of mine works in a boarding school where the pupils are provided tablets in order to do their work, join video calls etc... .

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Re:Greenwich schools to ban most cellphones, Apple Watches, ... by lukecarr on Monday August 19, 2024 @04:42AM (#41289119)

Can't speak on behalf of GP, but I suspect when they said "require," it's more loose than that. I've experienced UK schools that have a shared pool of iPads for students who haven't got a compatible device (for a multitude of reasons). So in that sense, students "require" a device from the perspective of learning, but don't "require" to own one outright (so it's not a barrier to education).

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