Smartphone Free School
Smartphone Free Childhood. This is a parent-led initiative at Aston Clinton, fully supported by the school.
Supporting Our Children’s Wellbeing Together
At Aston Clinton, we believe in giving children the chance to enjoy a childhood free from the pressures and risks that come with smartphones and social media.
So far, over 100 parents have signed our Parent Pact, pledging:
No smartphones before the age of 14
No social media before the age of 16
This pledge, part of the national Smartphone Free Childhood movement, helps children grow, play and thrive without the negative effects of digital distractions.
Why Delay Smartphones and Social Media?
Research, backed up by parents’ lived experience, shows that early smartphone and social media use can be harmful for children.
Some of the key concerns include:
Mental Health Impact – Children spending more time on social media are twice as likely to suffer anxiety and depression.
Addictive Design – Social media apps are made to keep children hooked, with 12-year-olds spending an average of 4 hours per day on phones.
Exposure to Harmful Content – 40% of children see inappropriate content within a week of joining social media.
Reduced Sleep & Focus – Using screens before bed lowers sleep quality and is linked to attention difficulties.
Cyberbullying – Over 60% of teenagers experience cyberbullying, with younger children especially at risk.
📚 Find out more:
- An excellent 12 minute video from Papaya Parenting
- A half hour summary of the leading book on the subject, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- An excellent and entertaining documentary called “Swiped” on Channel4
- A five minute impassioned plea from Hugh Grant (yes, THE Hugh Grant!)
What is Smart Free
At Aston Clinton, “smart-free” simply means a phone or device that can’t use apps, go on the internet, or take photos.
A Community Effort
One of the biggest challenges parents face is peer pressure – for themselves and their children.
94% of parents agree that smartphones are harmful in primary school years, yet by Year 7, around 90% of children already own one. This happens because parents feel their child will be left out if "everyone else has one."
Our Parent Pact breaks this cycle. By taking a united approach, families at can confidently say "not yet" without worrying their child will be excluded.
We’re Not Anti-Tech – We’re Pro-Childhood
Technology has huge benefits when used at the right time, in the right way. We want children to enjoy these opportunities when they are ready and when it’s safe.
Until then, we encourage:
Simple phones (“brick phones”) for calls and texts, instead of smartphones.
Shared family devices for internet use and messaging, so children can explore the digital world safely and with guidance.
Safety
We understand that some parents maybe concerned about children's safety when they are ready to walk to and from school. We have provided a suggested list of suitable alternatives:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7634149
https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/hmd/105-4g
Some parents have expressed that they would like to be able to track their children walking to and from school. Tracking tiles are a good way to do this and can be attached to your child's bag. Some suggestions of suitable tiles:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiles-Tracker/s?k=Tiles+Tracker
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=air+tag&crid=1W0A5JMH7IPCQ&sprefix=air+tag%2Caps%2C130&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Join the Movement
Since launching in 2023, over 100,000 parents nationally have signed the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact.
We invite all parents at Aston Clinton to join us in protecting childhood and helping our children flourish.