Around 60 schools in north London are thought to be banning smartphones from the classroom.

It comes as momentum behind a campaign encouraging parents to delay buying smart phones for their children until at least age 14 continues to grow.

More than 2,000 parents in north London have signed the Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) pledge, with many schools moving to ban personal devices from the classroom altogether.

This includes South Hampstead High School, which is making use of lockable Yondr pouches to ensure students cannot use their phones during the school day.

Zoe Brass, senior deputy head of pastoral care at the school, said students have been “very good humoured” about the changes, which were introduced this September.

The school said that pouches are to ensure the school is a “genuinely phone-free space” – phones have always technically been banned until pupils reach the Sixth Form.

Ms Brass added: “We continue to reinforce important messages about differentiating between when phones are helpful and when they are a potentially harmful distraction. 

“This is a well-considered, research-led initiative aimed at helping pupils to navigate the digital landscape safely and successfully.” 

And, according to SFC, around 60 schools in north London have adopted similar policies.

This includes King Alfred School in Hampstead, which is working to only allow basic ‘brick’ phones during the school day, the group claimed.

One school which has not allowed smartphones for many years is Michaela Community School in Wembley.

Run by Katharine Birbalsingh, sometimes dubbed Britain’s Strictest Headmistress, the school claims the lack of smartphones ensures children are “able to concentrate fully in lessons”.

Ms Birbalsingh added: “Without smartphones, children are able to be real human beings; talking, playing, doing sport, running around and being silly like children, as opposed to zombies staring at a screen, ruining their eyesight and breaking their brains.”

She also credits a “major” part of the school’s academic success – 93% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths – to its smartphone ban.

Nova Eden, north London SFC regional leader, said: “Delaying the introduction of smartphones and social media for young children, and eliminating them during the school day, is essential for enhancing both children's mental health and academic achievement.”