St Albans is striving to become the first British city to go smartphone-free for children under 14. Head teachers from its primary schools have issued a joint letter to parents urging them to delay buying the devices for their children.
Heads in St Albans primary schools’ consortium wrote: “We encourage all parents to delay giving children a smartphone until they reach the age of 14, opting instead for a text/call phone alternative if necessary. As head teachers we have committed to promoting our own schools as smartphone-free. We believe we can all work together across St Albans and join the growing movement across the country to change the ‘normal’ age that children are given smartphones.”
The letter is signed by 20 of 24 primary schools in the city, with two more expected to join. The move is a significant development in the growing Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, which has galvanised parents and teachers to rethink how they deal with the devices at home and in school.
Article printed in The Times.
Mark Sellman, Technology Correspondent.
