Yondr Phone Pouches

At Excelsior Academy, we are introducing secure phone pouches from September 2026 as part of our commitment to providing the best possible environment for learning, wellbeing and student success.

By reducing distractions during the school day, we aim to help pupils focus on their learning, build positive relationships and enjoy a more engaging school experience.

A secure phone pouch is a lockable pouch that pupils place their mobile phone into at the start of the school day. Once locked, the pouch stays with the pupil in their bag throughout the day and is unlocked before they leave the academy at the end of the school day.

Pupils will keep their phone with them at all times, but they will not be able to access it during school hours.

The Yondr phone pouches we are introducing also allow parents and carers to continue using location-tracking features, providing reassurance while ensuring phones remain securely stored throughout the school day.

Mobile phones are an important part of everyday life, but they can also distract pupils from learning, reduce face-to-face interaction and contribute to online issues during the school day.

The Department for Education (DfE) advises that schools should have a clear policy which prevents the use of mobile phones throughout the school day. Introducing Yondr phone pouches supports this guidance while helping us create a calm, focused and positive learning environment for every pupil.

Many schools that have introduced Yondr phone pouches have described the impact as transformational, reporting improvements in behaviour, learning and the overall school environment.

Schools using Yondr phone pouches have reported a range of positive outcomes, including:

• Fewer distractions during lessons.
• Improved focus, concentration and engagement with learning.
• More face-to-face conversations and stronger friendships during break and lunchtime.
• Healthier boundaries around mobile phone and social media use.
• A reduction in peer-on-peer cyberbullying and other online safeguarding concerns during the school day.
• A calmer, more positive learning environment for pupils and staff.
• A clear and consistent approach to mobile phone use across the academy.
• Better opportunities for pupils to achieve their full academic potential.

To help you understand how Yondr phone pouches will work at Excelsior Academy, we have created a short 'How To' tutorial video.

This explains how the Yondr phone pouch system works, including when pupils will lock and unlock their pouches each day.

Can my child still bring a phone to school?

Why is the school making this change?

What if I need to contact my child during the day?

What if my child needs to contact home?

What happens if my child forgets to lock their phone away?

What if a student refuses to follow the rules?

Will phones be safe?

What about the journey to and from school?

Can my child use their phone at break or lunch?

What if my child needs their phone for medical reasons?