What is the School Phone Pouch Programme
The School Phone Pouch Programme is a school-wide phone management routine designed for phone-free spaces. Each student uses a personal lockable phone pouch, and unlocks only at approved times using an unlocking base.
Easy and seamless way to manage students phones
Phone-free spaces become simple to run: students lock phones on entry, keep pouches with them, and unlock only at approved times at designated bases.
Need the 3-step routine?
How it works →How do schools implement the School Phone Pouch Programme?
- Each student places their phone into a personal phone pouch as they enter a phone-free space.
- The pouch uses a safe clip mechanism, and can be unlocked using a magnetic base when students are allowed to use their phones again.
- Pouch stays with the student entire day, easy to show the phone is secured.
- Can be unlocked by admin staff during emergencies.
- Enables fast, visual compliance checks for teachers and administrators.
What it means for your school community
A consistent routine works best when everyone understands what “good compliance” looks like day to day.
Principals
- A consistent approach for phone-free spaces that is simple to explain.
- Fast, visible compliance checks that reduce day-to-day ambiguity.
- A programme that can be applied across spaces as part of a school-wide routine.
Vice-Principals (VPs) and leadership teams
- Clear operational expectations for staff: what to check and when.
- A routine that is consistent across classes, reducing negotiation.
- Practical planning around unlocking locations to support orderly flow.
School administrators and operations
- Simple rollout: issue pouches, brief staff and students.
- A clear plan for quantities, base locations, and top-ups for new cohorts.
- Admin staff can unlock pouches during emergencies.
Teachers
- Quick visual checks rather than handling phones.
- Phones are physically present but not accessible, reducing under-the-table use.
- A consistent start-of-lesson routine across classes.
Students
- Phones stay with students, but cannot be used in phone-free spaces.
- No keys to manage – the lock is built into the pouch.
- Unlocking happens at approved times at designated locations.
Parents
- A simple message: in phone-free spaces, phones are secured in a locked pouch.
- Phones are present with students, but not used during lessons.
- Clear expectations about when phones can be unlocked again.
Next steps
Review the routine and rollout plan, then confirm quantities and base locations.
Want to see it in your school setting?