Jenga before lessons and dodgeball after: verdict on 12-hour

‘You still get to do fun activities,’ says pupil as mobile-free pilot scheme in west London nears completion

Two months ago a radical experiment in one London state school hit the headlines. All Saints Catholic College announced it was piloting a 12-hour school day in what was reported as a bold attempt to break students’ phone addictions.

From 7am to 7pm on Monday to Thursday the youngest pupils, in years 7 and 8, could stay in school. For £10 a week, they would be served a cooked breakfast and “family” dinner, and offered activities from drama to ceramics and sports. The only catch: their phones had to remain in their bags, switched off, for the entire 12 hours. No peeking.