Wilmslow High School awarded £2,000 grant for phone-free school day
Wilmslow Town Council has awarded a £2,000 grant to Wilmslow High School to support the introduction of secure phone pouches for students. Wilmslow High School has been awarded a £
By Cheshire Today
Wilmslow Town Council has awarded a £2,000 grant to Wilmslow High School to support the introduction of secure phone pouches for students.
Wilmslow High School has been awarded a £2,000 grant to help introduce a phone-free school day.
The funding from Wilmslow Town Council will support the purchase of secure phone pouches, designed to keep mobile phones away during the school day while allowing students to keep them in their possession.
The grant was awarded in May 2026 and forms part of the town council’s community grant support for local projects.
The aim is to help the school reduce distractions, support learning and encourage students to engage more with lessons, staff and each other during the day.
Phone-free school systems are increasingly being used by schools looking to manage the impact of smartphones on concentration, behaviour and wellbeing.
Under this type of system, students usually place their phone inside a secure pouch when they arrive at school. The pouch remains locked during the day and is then unlocked when they leave.
The approach is intended to reduce phone use without requiring schools to collect and store hundreds of devices each morning.
Wilmslow High School, based on Holly Road, is a large mixed secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18.
For a school of that size, managing mobile phone use can be a significant daily challenge. Phones can be useful for communication outside school, but during the school day they can also distract from learning, create pressure around social media and contribute to behaviour issues.
The grant will help meet the cost of introducing a system that gives the school a consistent way to manage phones across the site.
Supporters of phone-free school policies argue that reducing access to mobiles can improve focus, strengthen social interaction and give young people a break from constant notifications.
There is also growing concern nationally about the effect of smartphones and social media on children’s attention, sleep, mental health and peer relationships.
The Department for Education has previously issued guidance backing schools that restrict phone use during the school day, although individual schools decide how to apply their own policies.
For parents, the key question is usually how students can be contacted in an emergency.
Schools using secure pouch systems typically keep normal safeguarding and emergency contact arrangements in place through reception, pastoral teams and school offices.
Wilmslow Town Council’s grant means the school can move forward with the phone-free approach while reducing the financial pressure of introducing the equipment.
The project also fits with wider local aims around supporting young people, education and wellbeing in the town.
Residents can find more information about Wilmslow High School through the school’s website.