Pupils go phone-free with Yondr pouches
When pupils returned to Stockport Grammar School after the summer break, they were met with the familiar pace of a new academic year – minus one thing: the pressure of mobile phones.
Since September, SGS has introduced Yondr pouches into the school. The pouches have helped SGS create a calmer, more focused learning environment by removing the constant distraction of mobile phones during the school day. The phones are securely stored away during the school day meaning that students are more present in lessons, engage more meaningfully with their teachers and peers, and are more able to concentrate on learning without the pull of notifications or social media.
Schools using Yondr have consistently report improvements in classroom behaviour, attention and participation, as well as a noticeable reduction in anxiety linked to online pressures.
Importantly, Yondr supports student wellbeing by giving pupils a genuine break from screens, encouraging face‑to‑face interaction at break and lunchtime and helping to rebuild social confidence and communication skills.
Head, Sarah Capewell, made the move to support pupils and to encourage face-to-face interactions between them during the school day.
Since the pouches came into effect, pupils have reported spending more time with their friends at break and lunch time.
When surveyed, parents have also responded positively to the change. The average response from 1-5 was 4.2 with 5 as strongly agree to the change.
A pupil commented: “I feel not having phones makes us more social. Me and my friends go outside and play table tennis or football,” while another said: “I think not having phones has been good. We’ve been talking about things other than phones.”
Crucially, Yondr shifts responsibility away from staff policing phone use and towards a clear, consistent whole‑school culture. Phones remain safely with students but inaccessible, reinforcing trust, personal responsibility and boundaries. The result is a more focused, respectful school environment where learning, relationships and wellbeing can thrive.
