Liberty Academy in Hull is set to go phone-free using Yondr lockable pouches, aiming to improve focus, safety, and social connections among students, as part of a wider shift towards healthier, distraction-free learning environments.
A secondary school in Hull, Liberty Academy, is set to become phone-free by adopting a system that uses lockable pouches to store students’ digital devices during the school day. Run by the Heartwood Learning Trust, the initiative aims to help students focus more fully on their learning and build stronger, more genuine connections with their peers and staff, free from the distractions posed by mobile phones.
The system, developed by Yondr and founded in 2014, is already in use in around 45 countries worldwide and among millions of pupils, including more than 250,000 in the UK. Each student is assigned a personal Yondr pouch to securely store their phone in during school hours. Students keep the pouches in their bags or lockers and unlock them under staff supervision only at the start and end of the school day. This approach introduces a structured break of six to eight hours from digital interruptions, allowing students to engage more deeply in lessons.
According to the Heartwood Learning Trust, the transition to a phone-free environment is backed by research and practical experience showing significant benefits. A survey conducted jointly by Yondr and Public First in February 2025 found that 72% of teachers believe phone use is a persistent issue in schools and that lesson time is regularly disrupted by it. Moreover, 80% of parents support the idea of phone-free schools. These statistics align with findings from other Yondr-supported institutions that report improvements in safety, student wellbeing, engagement, and behaviour. For instance, 86% of school leaders involved in Yondr programmes have noted enhanced safety and wellbeing, 84% reported increased classroom engagement, and 44% witnessed a reduction in behavioural sanctions.
Helen Winn, Chief Executive Officer at Heartwood Learning Trust, emphasised the positive impact they anticipate: “We’ve seen how powerful it can be when students are free from digital distractions… Our staff will be able to focus fully on teaching and supporting students, with everyone engaged throughout the day.” She highlighted the importance of Yondr’s long-standing expertise, which includes policy consultation, communications, operational planning, training, and ongoing support to ensure that this shift is smooth and sustained.
The Trust also stated that this move is part of a broader strategy to foster environments where students can thrive academically and socially while learning to develop balanced, healthy relationships with technology. This shift aims to reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with constant online connectivity, allowing students to benefit from a calmer and more focused school experience.
Yondr’s phone-free programme has been widely acknowledged for its comprehensive approach, offering support that extends beyond simply providing equipment. This holistic strategy addresses policy development, school staff training, and ongoing programme evaluation, making the intervention more effective and accepted in educational settings.
As Liberty Academy and the other five secondary schools within the Heartwood Learning Trust implement this system, they join a growing number of schools internationally committing to reducing the disruption caused by mobile devices in educational settings. The goal is to create a more focused, safe, and supportive atmosphere that encourages student well-being and academic achievement.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents a recent initiative by Liberty Academy in Hull to implement a phone-free policy using Yondr pouches. Similar initiatives have been reported in other UK schools, such as Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire ([berkhamsted.com](https://www.berkhamsted.com/berkhamsted-goes-phone-free-with-yondr/?utm_source=openai)) and Windermere School in Cumbria ([windermereschool.co.uk](https://www.windermereschool.co.uk/about/news/windermere-schools-new-initiative-phones-locked-during-the-day-learning-unlocked/?utm_source=openai)). However, the specific details about Liberty Academy’s adoption of this policy appear to be unique, with no earlier reports found. The earliest known publication date of similar content is from September 2023, indicating that the narrative is fresh. The report is based on a press release from the Heartwood Learning Trust, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative includes updated data, such as the February 2025 survey findings, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quote from Helen Winn, CEO of Heartwood Learning Trust, appears to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording varies slightly from other similar quotes, indicating potential originality. No online matches were found for the specific quote, raising the score but flagging it as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Hull Daily Mail, a reputable regional newspaper. The Heartwood Learning Trust, which issued the press release, is a known educational trust in the UK. The Yondr program is a well-established initiative with a global presence. However, the specific details about Liberty Academy’s adoption of this policy are not independently verified, which introduces some uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the benefits of Yondr pouches, such as improved student engagement and reduced distractions, are consistent with findings from other schools implementing similar policies. The statistics from the February 2025 survey align with previous reports on parental support for phone-free schools. The language and tone are consistent with typical educational press releases. No excessive or off-topic details were noted. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates of implementation at Liberty Academy, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a recent initiative by Liberty Academy in Hull to implement a phone-free policy using Yondr pouches. While similar initiatives have been reported in other UK schools, the specific details about Liberty Academy’s adoption appear to be unique. The report is based on a press release from the Heartwood Learning Trust, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The direct quote from Helen Winn, CEO of Heartwood Learning Trust, appears to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The claims about the benefits of Yondr pouches are consistent with findings from other schools implementing similar policies. However, the lack of independent verification for the specific details about Liberty Academy introduces some uncertainty. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with medium confidence.
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