It’s easy to see why Gillian Keegan and the Conservatives talk about banning phones in schools - even if, in reality, they are just planning to issue non-statutory guidance.

It sounds like a solid solution to a clear problem that schools are facing - and it mirrors similar moves in France and the Netherlands to prohibit smartphones, and follows a major Unesco report published earlier this year.

However, while the reasons for an outright ban in some settings may be compelling, we have decided not to ban phones outright but instead incorporate them into daily life, but with some clear parameters by which students are, and are not, allowed to use them.

Not banning phones in school

The reasons we have done this are threefold.

Firstly, our campus and educational systems are intrinsically connected with mobile phones. Phones serve as indispensable tools for accessing student timetables, facilitating communication and sharing crucial documents for lessons. As such, it is helpful to staff and students to have access to devices.

Secondly, we maintain an open campus and consider it a matter of safety not to deprive our young learners of their phones.

Thirdly, we want to teach students the art of self-regulation. Our objective is not to mould students who merely follow orders when they must and then ignore them the moment they can - such as indulging in heavy phone use the moment they leave campus.

Instead, we strive to nurture young individuals who are capable of making responsible choices and understand that while mobile phones have become an integral part of life, they should exercise restraint by knowing when to put the phone down and put their head up.

To help make this message clear, we have developed a simple mantra: “Meet, feet, eat.”

Meet

All gatherings, including assemblies and year-group meetings, are designated as technology-free zones. Any use of mobile phones in these areas results in confiscation.

Furthermore, in class, students are required to place their phones in designated boxes on the front desk, unless explicitly permitted by the teacher for a specific task.

During extracurricular activities students are also expected to refrain from phone use and focus on the session they are taking part in.

Feet

We encourage students to walk with their heads held high and their eyes open, fostering a sense of awareness and presence and engaging with those they meet. They should not be on their phones aimlessly scrolling while staring at their feet.

Eat

Our school maintains a strict policy against using technology, including phones and earphones, in the school restaurant and during house meals.

We believe in the importance of good manners, which means focusing on the company present at the table.

The impact 

Since introducing “Meet, feet, eat” seven weeks ago, the impact of these policies has been twofold.

After an initial period of adjustment, the expectations have been widely accepted, and confiscations of phones have become rare. The areas of focus - meeting, walking and eating - have effectively been transformed into phone-free activities.

What’s more, the “Meet, feet, eat” mantra has also given everyone a standard reference for addressing transgressions by both students and staff, thereby fostering a non-aggressive and enjoyable means of maintaining order.

Secondly, students have shown their ability to self-regulate their behaviour. They now have designated social spaces where they can engage with the digital world during free moments, such as checking emails, reviewing schedules or connecting with friends and family.

Overall, our approach is not one that blindly embraces all technology without acknowledging any potential negative consequences. It is aimed at preparing students for a future in which they will constantly encounter technological distractions but must learn to overcome this temptation.

We hope that with clear boundaries on phone use, it will give them the power to know when it is time to use their devices and when it is right to put them down, look up and enjoy what is around them.

Tomas Duckling is deputy school director at Aiglon College, Switzerland