Heartwood Learning Trust are committed to creating learning environments where every student can thrive. Our young people are growing up in an increasingly complex online and offline world which presents many exciting opportunities, but also educational, emotional and social challenges.
We're going phone-free with Yondr!
On the 19th November 2025, we are going to launch the Yondr Phone-Free Schools Programme. This isn’t just about limiting screen time, it’s about giving students the space to think deeply, engage meaningfully, and thrive in an environment designed for their educational and personal growth.
For over a decade, Yondr has supported schools in more than 45 countries to build healthier and more engaging school cultures. Their lockable pouches combined with expert hands-on guidance and support has led to powerful results reported by school Principals:-
- 86% reported improved safety and student wellness
- 84% reported increased engagement in class
- 44% reported reduced behavioural sanctions
How the programme works
Each student will be assigned their own Yondr pouch for the school year ahead - a secure, lockable pouch in which to store digital devices such as phones and smart watches during school hours. Students are responsible for bringing their pouch to and from school each day and for keeping it in good condition.
- Upon arrival at school
Students power off all personal technology including mobile phones and smart watches, place them in the Yondr pouch, and lock it in front of school staff. - During the day
Students keep the locked pouch in their bag or locker. - Leaving the school site
Students unlock pouches at designated stations to retrieve their devices and lock their empty pouches.
This process is quick, simple, and will be supervised by staff as part of their daily routine.
Monday 3rd November at 5:45pm: Introduction to Yondr - Parent / Carer Meeting - MCE
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gnc-sqpq-toq
Frequently Asked Questions
- Mobile phones
- Smartwatches
- Wireless earphones (e.g. AirPods)
- Other personal electronic devices which may be utilised to access mobile telephones during the school day
The unlocking process takes only a few seconds. Staff will be on hand at unlocking stations to relieve any queues forming in the first few weeks and if needed, we will add extra unlocking points.
The main reception will have an unlocking device for students arriving late or leaving early.
Students will remain in possession of their phones - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bags.
All students pass the unlocking stations at the school exits so in Yondr’s experience this hardly ever happens! If they do arrive home with their phone still in their pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!
The student’s phone will be collected and securely stored in a designated location within school until the end of the day. Parents/carers will be contacted and reminded of the procedures. If the pouch is repeatedly forgotten it will be deemed lost and a £15 replacement fee will be chargeable.
We recommend that students leave their empty pouch in their school bag after school/during holidays to avoid loss or damage.
Please Note:
Pouches must stay in the closed and locked position when not in use to keep them in the best condition.
We have an alternative solution for the small number of students who require their phones for medical reasons (e.g. diabetes). We will be in touch with these families if they have informed us of their medical condition.
Please send an email to hello@mce.hlt.academy and we will discuss next steps.
If a student is found in possession of a phone outside their pouch, it will be confiscated and a sanction based on the Trust Behaviour policy and the associated localised procedures will be issued.
Bag searches may be conducted if staff have concerns that a student has a mobile phone on them that hasn’t been placed into their pouch. This will be deemed as a prohibited item.
Tampering with the Yondr pouch in any way, including the use of an unofficial unlocking device, will be treated as a serious behaviour issue by the school and a sanction based on the Trust Behaviour policy and the associated localised procedures will be issued. Intentional damage to the pouch may result in a replacement fee of £15.
If accidental damage occurs, students must report it immediately. If damage is discovered during checks and has not been reported, it may be considered intentional. Students will be provided guidelines to lock their pouch when they leave school to avoid any accidental damage.
The pouch should not be used as a replacement for a protective case and/or screen protector on a mobile device.
We will be conducting random pouch checks throughout the academic year to ensure compliance with our new phone-free procedures and to assess the condition of students’ individual pouches.
In an emergency, the priority is for students to follow school safety procedures under staff guidance. Unauthorised phone use during such situations may:-
- Delay emergency responses
- Spread misinformation
- Put students and staff at increased risk
- Disrupt coordinated safeguarding measures
Emergency communications will be managed via the school.