Supporting Schools with Practical, Real-World Phone Policy Solutions

Phone Locker® was proud to attend The Schools & Academies Show Birmingham at the NEC—one of the UK’s most important education events bringing together thousands of leaders, Multi-Academy Trusts, local authorities, and sector experts to discuss the future of education.

The show is designed to help schools navigate today’s biggest challenges through policy insight, CPD learning, collaboration, and practical solutions. And right now, one of the most urgent conversations in schools is how to manage mobile phones in a way that improves learning, behaviour, and wellbeing, without creating conflict or unmanageable workload for staff.

That’s exactly where Phone Locker® fits in.

Being Present

Across the UK, schools are recognising that mobile phone disruption isn’t just a minor nuisance, it impacts concentration, mental wellbeing, safeguarding, relationships, and classroom climate.

Leaders we spoke to shared common challenges, including:

Difficulty enforcing phone policies fairly and consistently
Confrontations between staff and pupils when phones are confiscated
Distractions affecting focus, behaviour, and engagement
Pressure from parents and community expectation
The need for clear systems over subjective rule-enforcement

At the show, our team demonstrated how Phone Locker® provides a simple, fair and system-led approach, helping schools remove distraction, reduce conflict, and create calmer learning environments—while ensuring responsibility stays with the student, not the teacher.

“Schools want solutions, not theories” – Adam Proops

Managing Director Adam Proops, who led conversations on the stand alongside the team, reflected on why events like SAAS matter so much:

“What really came through in Birmingham is that schools want real, workable solutions, not theory or debate. Leaders are dealing with behaviour, mental health, safeguarding pressures and the complexities of policy implementation. When they see a system like Phone Locker® that’s already working in schools across the UK, and globally, it gives them confidence that phone-free environments are achievable, practical and genuinely beneficial for students.”

“We had brilliant conversations with MAT leaders, secondary schools, behaviour specialists and safeguarding teams. There’s a real appetite now to move beyond discussion and put structured systems in place that support learning, wellbeing and consistency.”

A Growing National Movement

With increasing government guidance, growing public support, and more schools adopting structured phone-free strategies, The Schools & Academies Show highlighted an important shift: schools are ready to act.

And crucially, the conversation is not “anti-technology”—it’s about protecting learning, supporting adolescent development, and restoring focus where it matters most.

Looking Ahead to November 2026

The Schools & Academies Show returns to Birmingham in 2026, and Phone Locker® will continue to be part of the national conversation, supporting schools and Trusts as they shape policy, culture, and environments that help pupils thrive.

We’re already working with schools and MATs across the UK to:

Reduce classroom disruption
Support wellbeing and behaviour improvement
Provide consistent policy rollout
Improve staff confidence in enforcement
Rebuild calm and focus in learning spaces

Want to Talk?

If you missed us at SAAS Birmingham but want to learn more about creating phone-free environments in your school or Trust, we’d love to chat. We can provide: