List of SA high schools that will start new term with mobile phone ban

It’s a big call but these 45 secondary schools will start term one with a total ban on students using mobile phones at any time during the school day.

TWENTY high schools are introducing a ban on mobile phones at the start of term one.

The policy, which Labor pledged to implement as part of its 2022 state election promises, is already in place at 25 secondary education institutions.

Yondr lead-lined pouch for mobile phones. Picture: Supplied

Unlocking a Yondr pouch Picture: Supplied

That brings the total number of participants to 45, representing more than a quarter of the state’s 160 high schools which are all required to “transition” by the end of term two.

Among the 20 schools immediately committing to the ban is Seaview High School, which is giving each of its 1300 students a Yondr lockable lead-lined pouch.

That measure is costing $30,000.

The system requires students to lock their phones in the pouch at the start of every school day; they can be unlocked after the final bell at 22 stations around the school’s perimeter.

A fight between students at Golden Grove High School. Picture: Supplied

Students will be asked to place their locked pouches on their desks during home room class and teachers will perform random checks to ensure that they are complying with the ban.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said a trial of the pouches at Port Lincoln High School proved popular with students who admitted to being unable to control their phone addictions.

Schools not using the pouches ban phones by getting students to leave them – switched off or in flight mode – in lockers and bags.

Mr Boyer said the government would also consider providing financial support to schools keen to implement, but unable to afford, Yondr pouches.

The phone ban comes after extensive consultation between the Education Department, principals, teachers, school councils, unions, parent groups and students.

The push for it increased following incidents involving students using phones to video fights at the new Whyalla Secondary College and expanded Golden Grove High School.

Seaview High principal Penny Tranter said her school had banned “distracting” phones in the classroom for the past four-and-a-half years.

Seaview High School principal Penny Tranter. Picture: Supplied

She said extending the ban to cover the whole school day would encourage students to play outdoors.

“We know that our young people are very connected to their social media platforms,” she said, adding the ban would encourage students to confidently communicate with one another “face-to-face”.

Teachers at the school will also have restrictions placed on their own mobile phone usage.

“We are expecting all of our staff to be modelling that devices are perhaps not as essential as we have been led to believe,” Ms Tranter said.

Of the 1300 students enrolled at Seaview High only three had sought an exemption for medical reasons, she said.

The school’s Year 12 president Jessica Hall said she believed the ban would decrease incidents of cyber bullying.

While students didn’t like to feel they could not be trusted, they would accept the ban when the reasons for it were explained to them, she said.