School that convinced hundreds of GCSE pupils to give up TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram reveals results
A ‘failing’ secondary school that went to war against its students’ smartphones has seen its results rise above the national average.
Staff at Cumberland Community School in Newham, east London, made headlines in 2023 when they convinced half of their students to delete social media apps from their phones during exam season.
TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram were sidelined for two months to be replaced by mandatory revision sessions – with some students agreeing to hand in their smartphones completely to avoid any temptation or distraction.
Since repeating the pioneering work last year, the school’s progress score has risen by a figure and a quarter, putting it among the most consistent improvements in Britain.
And at the inner-city academy, 62 percent of GCSE students now achieve at least a grade 5 in both English and maths – sixteen points above the England average.
“The social media ban was a game changer for us as our students were suddenly 100 percent focused on revising for their exams,” says headteacher Ekhlas Rahman.
‘The cohort (2023) that stuck with it throughout the revision and exam period did significantly better than predicted. We did it again last year and the results were similar.
Amin Opayemi and Dania Olajide were among students at Cumberland Community School in Newham, East London who ditched social media while sitting for their final exams
Headteacher Ekhlas Rahman said the initiative was a ‘game changer’ after exam results soared (Photo: cumberlandcst.org)
‘A lot of credit goes to our staff and students who have put so much effort into this sustainable improvement.’
Concerns about the impact of smartphones on children’s development have continued to grow since the school came up with its groundbreaking plan.
Regulator Ofcom reported last year that 90 percent of 11-year-olds already have a smartphone, while 99 percent of children spend time online.
Although most social media platforms have a minimum age of 13, as many as six in ten children between eight and twelve years old have their own account, the research shows.
And three in five schoolchildren said they had been contacted online in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.
The outgoing Tory government issued new guidance for schools in February, with then education secretary Gillian Keegan urging headteachers to ban the use of smartphones in schools, including during breaks.
Eton College banned all but basic phones for its year nine pupils during the school day in May last year.
That was followed by news that Ormiston Academies Trust, a management group of schools with more than 35,000 pupils across Britain, would ban phones in the classroom due to the ‘overwhelming’ relationship between excessive smartphone use and poor mental health among young people.
Students were urged to hand over their phones to staff for up to two months
Inner city school now among the most consistently improved in Britain (Gov.uk)
And a study by think tank Policy Exchange in October found that in schools already implementing an effective ban – where smartphones are stored securely or banned from campus entirely – GSCE results appear to be one to two grades higher than students in schools with more lenient smartphone policies.
But the Labor government has resisted calls for a total ban on smartphones in schools, insisting that recent legislation must be given time to come into effect.
“We all want to find the best way to ensure children are safe while benefiting from the latest digital technology,” a spokesperson told the BBC.
‘The Online Safety Act will introduce strong safeguards for children, preventing them from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content.
‘This includes requiring companies to check children’s ages so parents can have peace of mind about their children’s safety online.
‘The vast majority of schools already deal effectively with the use of mobile phones, even with a ban.
“Legislation for a complete ban would simply take away the autonomy of school leaders who know their students and their communities best.”
Cumberland Community School is run by the Community Schools Trust, and Mr Rahman said he was not surprised that other schools were starting to follow his lead.
“Five years ago, this school failed its students,” he explained.
‘That meant they didn’t get the grades to go to higher education.
‘Now that we are among the best performing in the country, this means many more opportunities for our students.’