To be shocked that 97% of 12 years olds have smart phones?

[Rhayader]

My DCs school does not allow smartphones and most of the schools around here are the same. The kids all have Nokias (and often an AirTag or similar for tracking).

I can’t believe it’s 97%! Am I totally out of touch? She’s never even asked for a phone.

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2024/sep/23/children-who-dont-have-smartphones

I have no idea what they would do - I guess we will cross that bridge when we inevitably get to it but I don’t want to pay for two contracts and she needs to Nokia to take to school…. (Which has to stay turned off in their bag anyway).

They would of course never know if a kid had a phone at home. They aren’t Amish, the kids are expected to have computer access at home.

Even by the age of 12 most kids have developed enough sense to know that's a ridiculous over-step by the school.

I certainly wouldn't be encouraging such heavy handedness and I'd hope my kids would agree it's a total nonsense, to be made to sign something that the school has no control over.

They have to sign a contract with the school when they join saying they won’t have a smart phone until year 12

Ridiculous for the school to think they can police a child having a phone at home. Although obviously that contract means absolutely nothing.

I dislike schools that make it basically essential for children to have one (with apps and homework like a PP mentioned). But they can't ban them at home either.

I’m 34 and going to secondary school was the starting point for many of my class to get a phone (smart phones didn’t exist then). But by the time I left school, camera phones and colour screens were commonplace and I’d say that over 50% of the kids had one of those, I’d say it was 20 years ago that kids moved from a phone to a phone that could do more.

Out of touch seems like an understatement.

They have to sign a contract with the school when they join saying they won’t have a smart phone until year 12 and they won’t have any social media accounts.

I’d love to have this, but sadly our local secondary says kids have to have a smartphone on joining as all their lesson and homework info is sent there. I think it’s appalling, and is a huge barrier to addressing screen addiction and associated issues in young people.

My middle one can’t even see her dinner money balance without her app. Would have to order her lunch blind without her phone.

I'd say more unless your child is at a Michaela type school. Kids at boarding school have smart phones.
For us smart phone was by far the simplest option, so easy to block and control apps, essentially making it a brick phone with inbuilt tracking (find my iPhone) and ability for contactless payments. It's not all bad, it's the kids who have uncontrolled access that are the worry.

Minor matter round here of needing one to catch the school bus (the bus pass is apparently app only). I can’t imagine that is that unusual…

Yes it’s a small (very) religious academy chain.

People often talk about how we all managed without phones as kids. Which is true.

But I distinctly remember having to phone my Dad from a pay phone on numerous occasions when the train / bus didn't turn up etc.

When was the last time anyone saw an active pay phone in their area?

Your school sounds a bit 'out there' to be honest. DS just got a phone for his 10th birthday. An old iPhone of mine but we've basically made it into a dumb phone as he can't do anything on it. He buses to school and I want to be able to contact him.
It sits in his bag all day as the school has banned their use during the day. Fair enough. The contract thing is a bit wild. Where do you live?

Yes it’s fairly similar to Michaela from what I’ve heard of it. Incredibly strict.

It’s also London so the kids have free Oyster cards

I know of a school with that rule. A very religious one, where most of the parents would likely support the rule. I don't think it work in most schools.

Yes ours is the same.

You don't need an app to travel on the bus. But you can only buy the term time tickets (like a bulk bought ticket that lasts for a whole half term) on the app, and these are much cheaper than buying a ticket individually each day with a card.

As far as I’m aware 100% of the kids have dumb phones.

This is a very very religious school.

I'm shocked that your shocked. I'd say 1/4 of DDs Year 5 class (9-10yrs old) had phones last year. Another 1/4 have no intention of allowing them until high school (that includes me), the other half I have no idea. It's a sad state of affairs. Older DS's had them once at high school but they have to be off and away on the premises, if they are caught with a phone out/on its confiscated until the Friday.

my eldest is 14 and has had a phone since end of year 5 when he started travelling back home from school to prepare him for year 7. He has always had a smart phone. Never really been into it though he’ll watch something on Netflix on it once he gets into bed as he shares a room with his younger brother who goes to bed at 7.

Both my children’s schools before the start of the summer holidays asked parents what should their mobile phone policy be. Eldest sons school planned on banning phones completely which got voted against by parents which rightly so as I like him to have it for emergencies ect. So their rule is, mobile phones to be switched off before entering the school building and if caught with it on it’s confiscated. Younger sons school wanted to ban smart phones, my youngest doesn’t have a mobile phone but parents voted against that as I’m assuming most probably already had smart phones and parents didn’t want to buy another. So rule is to be handed into the office into school and collected at the end of the day.

Dumb phones are all well & good but I like the fact I have 2 trackers set up on my son’s phone incase one fails. He also has his debit card linked to his phone so he doesn’t have to carry any money around with him or his debit card. It’s been useful for when he has gone away with school to residential trips which he has done for the past 3 years. as he’s been able to watch films on the the coach or trains, he’s been able to take pictures with friends and again has been able to go cashless.

The vast majority of kids I know who are year 7 like my DD only have a Nokia or one of the other 2 allowed phones. They have to sign a contract with the school when they join saying they won’t have a smart phone until year 12 and they won’t have any social media accounts.

Hahaha.

I'm in my 30s and it's been the norm since people my age left primary for them to have a phone. That became smart phones as they evolved. I don't necessarily agree with it but I think it's a bit naive to think it doesn't happen.

Have you chosen to send your child there? Don't you worry that they will grow up completely out of touch with real life?

You have demonstrated that you don't know the reality of life for the rest of the country, do you want them to be so out of touch?

DD has an AirTag for this purpose as I was fairly uncomfortable not being able to track her… I’ve spoken to other parents who have the same Nokia+tracker combo.

Using a dumb phone is for kids up to no good here eg dealing drugs. No location means if caught by the police, there’s little to go on.

Our rule was always age 12 but our now 12 year old is addicted to all forms of screens and gaming so holding out for the moment- hell have to have one for secondary for contact though

I’m in my 20s and had a smartphone at that age as did most of my peers. The original iPhone came out in 2007. I think your view of technology is outdated, if it was normal a decade ago, it’s certainly going to be normal now.