30 школ в регионе получат финансирование для создания безтелефонных зон в учебное время

A total of 30 secondary schools will receive funding to become fully phone-free during the school day. The schools, across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Milton Keynes, will share £254,000 from the Phone Free Schools Fund, launched by Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber. Mr Barber said: "I'm delighted to be supporting 30 local secondary schools in implementing phone-free solutions, taking money from criminals and reinvesting it back into the community. "Creating phone-free environments in schools is not just about academic attainment; it supports safeguarding of our young people, reduces opportunities for anti-social behaviour and helps decrease the potential for young people to become involved in, or victims of, more serious crimes including exploitation. "We cannot eliminate the risk entirely – students will still have access to their phones outside of school hours – but limiting access during the school day will guarantee pupils a break from online pressures and exposures. "We know anecdotally from schools that have already implemented full phone-free policies that all of them have seen significant benefits and improved positive behaviours, so I am looking forward to seeing the impact of this initiative across the 30 schools funded." The fund was launched in June with the aim of creating better learning environments for secondary school pupils. Schools can choose their own storage solutions, such as lockable pouches, lockers, or boxes, to keep phones secure throughout the day. The funding comes from the sale of seized items that cannot be returned to their rightful owners. This money is allocated for community purposes rather than frontline policing. The first schools are expected to implement the changes as early as the autumn term. Among the schools receiving funding are Baylis Court School, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Dedworth Middle School, Denefield School, and Holyport College. Kings Academy Binfield, Langley Grammar School, Maiden Erlegh School in Earley and Reading, The Wren School, Reading Girls’ School, UTC Reading, and Wexham School are also included. St Edward’s Royal Free Middle School and River Academy will also benefit from the scheme. In Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury Vale Academy, Pebble Brook School, The Cottesloe School, and The Grange School are among those to receive funding. Oxfordshire schools on the list include Gosford Hill School, Lord Williams’s School, Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, Meadowbrook College, The Oxford Academy, and Wheatley Park School. In Milton Keynes, Glebe Farm All-Through School, Kents Hill Park School, and Shenley Brook End School are set to take part. The scheme allows pupils to keep their phones for travel to and from school, ensuring they can stay connected for safety reasons outside of school hours.