How the Insignis Academy Trust Created Phone-Free Schools

Creating calm, focused classrooms is a priority for every school. For the Insignis Academy Trust (IAT), that meant tackling one of the biggest modern distractions in education: smartphones.

Founded in 2016, the Trust runs five secondary schools in Buckinghamshire and is committed to providing every student with a high-quality learning experience. In pursuit of that goal, Insignis became the first Multi Academy Trust in the UK to introduce Phone Locker® lockable pouches across all of its schools.

The results were immediate.

“Improvement in student engagement, focus, and behaviour.”
— Jemma Arnold-Gunning, Insignis Trust

Starting with a Trial Across the Trust

The rollout began with a trial phase, allowing each school within the Trust to adapt the system to suit their layout, routines and culture. This approach helped staff refine processes before expanding the programme across all sites.

Once implemented, phones were securely locked away during the school day — removing the temptation to check messages, social media or group chats.

Almost immediately, schools began reporting noticeable improvements.

Teachers observed:

• Calmer classrooms
• Fewer behaviour incidents
• Students more engaged in lessons
• Better face-to-face interaction during breaks

Measurable Impact in Schools

Feedback from individual schools across the Trust demonstrated just how powerful a phone-free approach can be.

At Kingsbrook School, Deputy Head Dan Atherton reported a 96%+ reduction in phone incidents, including issues linked to online bullying and WhatsApp activity during the school day.

Similarly, Sir William Ramsay School saw a 95% decrease in phone-related incidents almost overnight, according to Deputy Head Ben Samuel.

Across the Trust, staff also noticed wider benefits.

Key outcomes included:

• Improved student focus and memory
• Reduced distractions and anxiety
• More sociable and interactive break times
• A significant reduction in cyberbullying
• Lower overall screen time during the school day
• Students feeling safer in school environments

Sue Gough from the Trust highlighted the broader impact of removing phones from the learning environment:

“When mobile phones are fully securely locked away, students are free to engage in lessons, build real life communication skills, improve focus and memory, and make the most of every learning moment.”

A Calmer School Environment

One unexpected benefit schools reported was the change in atmosphere around the school site.

Without phones, situations such as groups arranging to gather in toilets or coordinating conflicts during the day were significantly reduced. Staff described a calmer, more positive environment where students were more present and engaged.

Students themselves noticed the difference too.

“Ever since using Phone Locker®, lessons have become better as people aren’t distracted anymore and are focusing on their learning.”

Why Communication and Consistency Matter

Introducing a phone-free policy requires strong communication with parents, students and staff. Insignis took a thoughtful approach — providing notice, explaining the benefits and allowing time for questions and feedback.

Another key lesson from the rollout was the importance of consistency.

Schools that apply the same expectations across year groups tend to see stronger outcomes. Clear rules — and following through when they are broken — help ensure the policy works as intended.

Starting with trials also proved valuable. By testing the programme in selected schools first, the Trust was able to carry lessons learned into other sites, ensuring a smoother rollout across the group.

Leading the Way in Phone-Free Education

The Insignis Academy Trust’s approach demonstrates how a structured phone-free system can transform the school day — improving focus, behaviour and wellbeing across entire school communities.

For many schools, the challenge isn’t whether to address smartphone use, but how to implement change successfully.

Insignis showed that with the right planning, communication and consistency, the results can be significant.

Interested in Creating a Phone-Free School?

If your school, academy, college or university is exploring a phone-free approach, Phone Locker® can help you plan and implement a system that works for your environment.

We’re here to support schools at every stage — from trials and policy guidance to full rollouts across trusts. Contact us today.