NSW students sneaking burner phones into schools to skirt devices ban

High schools across NSW are spending thousands to enforce ad hoc mobile phone bans with magnetic pouches— but resourceful teens have found ways to outsmart them.

Teenagers are buying “burner phones” and fake devices to skirt their schools’ mobile phone bans, concerned parents have reported.

Central Coast Council of P & Cs president Sharryn Brownlee said parents at multiple high schools in the region were reporting students were sneaking their real phones past teachers by keeping them in their backpacks and instead surrendering a dummy device into locked pouches.

In one instance, she said, a student stole their father’s old, disused mobile phone from a drawer and put that in their school locker, a small case known as a “Yondr pouch”.

Around 160 schools across the state, including Wyong High School, Narara Valley High School and Brisbane Water Secondary College’s Umina campus, are understood to have implemented a Yondr system, which requires students to place their devices inside a case which can only be unlocked by tapping it against a magnetic base, usually located at the entrance to the school.

“P & Cs have often bought those pouches and thought they’re doing a good turn,” Ms Brownlee said.

NSW students are dodging mobile phone bans by outsmarting $12,000 technology.

“They’re spending all that money, and kids are outsmarting them.”

Wyong High School spent $12,000 implementing the Yondr system in 2021 after “extensive” consultation.

Teenagers are finding ways around the ban on mobile phones at school, sneaking burner phones into their Yondr pouches. Picture: Supplied

P & C president Dave Wells said even though teachers monitor the locking process at the front gate, it’s difficult for them to tell real and fake or non-functional phones apart.

“(Students) go to the Reject Shop, buy a toy phone that looks like an iPhone, and put that in the pouch.

“There’s not much (the teacher) can do about it, when you’ve got 700 students coming through the front gates and all dropping their phones in the pouches before they start school.”

Ms Brownlee said the lack of a consistent, statewide approach is to blame for the sneaky behaviour of some students.

“It’s hugely problematic and hugely inequitable, the kids are too clever by half.

“The inconsistency between schools is really starting to tell, and the Department of Education needs to step up and implement a total ban on phones, for Years 7 to 10 at least.”

The tactics have seen calls mount for a blanket ban on phones in high schools.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said a total ban on mobile phones in public school classrooms is “not practical”, and that she “trusts” principals and their communities to use their own discretion.

“We know that a one-size-fits-all approach to mobile phones in high schools is not practical,” she said.

“Under the current policy, high schools are able to put a phone restriction in place in consultation with their school communities.

“However we can’t ignore the role technology plays in our lives, and many schools, teachers and parents also understand that it is important for high school students learn how to use devices responsibly.”

Teachers Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos also argued against a one-size-fits-all model.

“There’s no doubt that mobile phones can be a distraction but, unfortunately, they are not the only potential distraction in our classrooms and schools,” he said.

“Mobile phone usage in schools need to be approached in different and in age-specific manners – what works in a primary school may not be appropriate in a high school setting.

“There are legitimate times in a lesson and throughout the school day when students may need or be asked to use their phones, tablets and or laptops.”

The Labor state opposition has pledged to implement a statewide mobile phone ban in schools if elected but would leave enforcement methods up to each school’s discretion, recommending the use of Yondr pouches but not mandating them.