Guide · Controversy

Phone bans: why one study found gains and another didn’t

Mixed results don’t mean give up—copy the parts that worked: full parking, short timers, written intents, and movement breaks you can run in Study Spaces.

Open a phone-free room Try a 20 / 3 solo block Host a 3–5 person kickoff Download phone-free poster

Finding

UK trial: no grade or wellbeing lift

A 2025 study of 1,227 students across 30 secondary schools (Lancet Regional Health Europe) found restrictive phone policies alone did not improve grades or wellbeing.

Finding

Dutch rollout: focus improved

A 2025 Dutch government study reported 75% of high schools saw better concentration after a January 2024 phone/device ban; about one-third saw academic improvement.

Finding

Why results diverge

The Dutch policy combined full-day collection plus teacher enforcement and short movement breaks; many UK schools relied on “out of sight” rules without full removal.

Playbook

Copy the successful pattern

Phone parking at entry

State the norm in the room description: phones away or in another room during blocks.

Short, bounded timers

Start with 20/3 or 25/5; longer 50/10 only after a warm-up block.

Intent bar visible

Everyone writes one task before the timer starts; chat logs the proof of work.

Movement breaks

Use 3–5 minutes for stand/walk/eye reset to ease withdrawal and reset focus.

Run it in Study Spaces

Put “phone-parking” in the room description; remind at the top of each block.
Use 20/3 or 25/5 for starts; graduate to 50/10 only after a warm-up.
Keep cameras optional; rely on presence pills and intent bar for accountability.
Movement every break; come back before the start tone to stay in sync.

FAQ

Do phone bans always raise grades?

No. The UK study found no academic or wellbeing gains. Benefits appear when policies fully remove phones during learning and pair with structure (timers, breaks).

Is camera-on required?

No. Accountability comes from the shared timer, presence pills, and written intents. Camera-optional keeps privacy and reduces fatigue.

What if I need my phone for 2FA?

Use one exception slot: unlock, complete 2FA in the break, then park the phone again before the next block.