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A report suggests that over half of secondary schools using Blackout, an app that disables students' smartphones during school hours, have seen improvements in GCSE grades. Based on feedback from more than 5,000 pupils across various English schools, the data indicates a reduction in phone-related punishments and an increase in face-to-face interactions among students and teachers.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Over half of secondary schools using Blackout, an app that blocks students' smartphones during school hours, reported improved GCSE grades according to a recent report. Specifically, 60% of these schools noted better exam results after implementing the technology. Teachers also observed fewer punishments related to phone misuse and more positive interactions with students. The data comes from Blackout Education's 2025-26 impact assessment, which surveyed over 5,000 pupils in both state and independent English schools. This initiative follows a government directive earlier this year under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, requiring schools to adopt smartphone-free policies. Some schools opted for technological solutions like Blackout, while others implemented physical measures such as lockers or pouches where students must store their phones during the day.
Written for “School Phone Blocking Apps Boost Grades” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning: leans strongly right for article 56123 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-04
Over half of secondary schools which used an app that restricts pupils' smartphones saw improvement in GCSE grades, a report has suggested.
uncertain
report → use → grades
Some 60 per cent of schools using Blackout, which turns students' phones into 'bricks' during the school day, saw examination results improve after introducing the technology.
asserted
results → use → technology
Teachers also said there were fewer phone-related punishments, more face-to-face interaction with pupils and calmer classrooms.
asserted
Teachers → say → pupils
Data from Blackout Education's 2025-26 impact assessment was based on feedback from more than 5,000 pupils in English state and independent schools.
asserted
Data → base → schools
Earlier this year Sir Keir Starmer's government ordered schools to become smartphone-free, with teachers free to decide how to implement such a ban.
asserted
teachers → order → ban
While some schools used technology to restrict phones, others introduced lockers or pouches where pupils must seal their devices during the day.
Sam Webster, deputy head at the independent Caterham School in Surrey, told The Times her school began using Blackout last month but already required phones to be kept away during the day.
asserted
school → use → day
Ms Webster added: 'We want our young people to develop really good habits with their families and actually they can take those wisdoms into the home environment when they're revising for exams… so if they're beginning to use their phone in that sensible mindful way, thinking carefully about those choices that they're making with technology, I think that will have a really positive impact on their ability to maintain a really good level of focus.'
asserted
that → add → focus
More than half of schools which introduced an app to restrict pupils' phones saw their GCSE results improve, a report has suggested
John Jones, director of innovation at the Royal Grammar School in Worcester, said Blackout's technology did not 'demonise' mobile phones.
uncertain
technology → introduce → phones
And a student at Westminster school, where former Meta executive and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Nick Clegg was educated, said he had seen a 'noticeable decrease in phone usage around school' after Blackout came in.
asserted
Blackout → educate → school
The developer said its platform blocked 'social media, gaming and other distracting apps' during school hours.
asserted
platform → say → hours
However it added pupils would still be able to make and receive phone calls and texts from home.
asserted
pupils → add → home
Katharine Birbalsingh, dubbed 'Britain's strictest headmistress' for her firm policies at Michaela Community School in Wembley, north London, told parents this summer not to give their children smartphones at all.
Katharine Birbalsingh, whose Michaela Community School in north London saw half its GCSE entries this year awarded top grades, told parents not to give their children smartphones
'Get them off the screens.
asserted
entries → dub → screens
Do not give your child a smartphone,' Ms Birbalsingh said as Michaela's GCSE results in August rivalled Eton with more than 50 per cent of entries awarded the top grade 9, ten times the national average.
asserted
cent → give → grade
Eton's mobile phone policy is also stringent, with the £65,000-a-year school telling parents two years ago it was banning new pupils from bringing smartphones into school.
asserted
it → tell → school
Instead new boarders aged 13 were to be told to transfer their Sim cards to a basic Nokia handset only able to make calls and send texts.
asserted
boarders → tell → texts
The Windsor college – which counts Princes William and Harry among its alumni – has not published a breakdown of its results this summer but saw almost 62 per cent of its GCSE entries receive grade 9 last year.
asserted
cent → count → grade
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