Eton College, one of the world’s most prestigious private boarding schools, has implemented a new policy requiring incoming students to use basic Nokia devices rather than smartphones. Known for educating world leaders and royalty, Eton alumni, known as Old Etonians, include Princes William and Harry, novelist George Orwell, actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston, and recent prime ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron.
In response to UK government guidelines, new students starting in September 2024 will be required to leave their smartphones at home and transfer their SIM cards to school-provided, offline Nokia phones. These basic phones can only make simple calls and send text messages – a stark contrast to the multi-functional smartphones most students are used to.
The move highlights a significant shift in the school’s approach to technology. Previously, Eton’s policy required first-year students to hand in their smartphones overnight. The new rules are part of an ongoing effort to balance the benefits and challenges that technology brings to the educational environment.
More focused, less distracted
In addition to the brick phone for use outside of school hours, students entering Grade 9, the equivalent of the first year of high school in the US, will receive a school-issued iPad to support their academic work.
The UK government’s communications regulator Ofcom reports that 97% of children have their own mobile phone by the age of 12, highlighting the pervasiveness of mobile devices among young people. By implementing this new policy, Eton aims to create a more focused and less distracting learning environment, in line with wider educational trends to limit the impact of technology during school hours.
While this move may seem like a downgrade to many students accustomed to modern smartphones, Eton believes it is a necessary step, although the college adds that it will continue to evaluate and adjust its policies to provide the best possible educational experience for its students.
