Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the launch of a major new phone-free pilot scheme involving more than 8,000 young people across Northern Ireland.

The pilot, running in nine schools until March 2026, is designed to explore the potential benefits of restricting mobile phone use during school hours, with a core focus on improving student concentration in the classroom and supporting overall wellbeing.

During a visit to St Ronan's College in Lurgan, one of the participating schools, Paul Givan explained that the decision follows a careful review of evidence and concerns raised by parents, teachers, and school leaders regarding excessive mobile phone use among adolescents and its potential link to declining mental health.

The Minister said: "In response, I committed to piloting a phone-free solution that would prevent pupils from using their devices during the school day—helping them to fully engage with learning, social interaction, and all aspects of school life."

Mr Givan noted that this approach aligns with actions being taken globally to curb phone use in schools, and while some local schools have independent policies, this pilot aims to establish a consistent, evidence-based approach for the region.

He added: "This pilot will help us understand what works best and how we can support schools to make changes that benefit pupils—boosting wellbeing, focus and academic achievement."

How the Pilot Works

Following a procurement process, Odyssey Education was appointed in June 2025 to supply the necessary equipment and support. Explaining the operational details, Minister Givan said: "Pupils involved in the pilot scheme will place their phones in a pocket-sized fabric pouch with a magnetic latch that is sealed at the beginning of the school day and opened using a special unlocking base. This will ensure pupils cannot use their phones during the school day and will allow us to evaluate the impacts of reduced usage." He provided assurance that flexibility will be maintained for students who require access to their smartphones for reasons related to health, disability, or other needs.

To ensure independent oversight, King's College London has been appointed to carry out an external evaluation of the phone-free pilot. The research will provide objective insights into the scheme's effectiveness and outcomes, with the findings set to inform future policy decisions.

Mr Givan encouraged full participation, concluding: "I encourage everyone involved—students, staff, and parents—to share their experiences openly and honestly over the coming months. I look forward to the valuable insights this review will bring, which will help shape future policy decisions."

A report detailing the evaluation of the phone-free pilot is due to be published in June 2026.

Five of the nine schools will go live with the pilot from September. The four remaining schools, Hazelwood IC, Larne HS, Markethill HS and St Joseph's Boys' are planning to start in the coming weeks. The nine schools participating in the pilot are:

• Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor

• Friends' School, Lisburn

• Hazelwood Integrated College, Belfast

• St Genevieve's High School, Belfast

• St Joseph's Boys', Londonderry

• St Fanchea's College, Enniskillen

• Larne High School

• Markethill High School

• St Ronan's College, Lurgan