A TOTAL of 753 parents in Somerset have signed a pact that says they will wait to give their child a smartphone until at least the end of Year 9 (age 14).
The figures from the website 'Smartphone Free Childhood' show the parents have children at 130 schools in Somerset.
The full list of schools from which parents have signed the 'Smartphone Free Childhood' pact in Somerset is below.
- Avanti Park School, Frome 63
- All Hallows Preparatory School, East Cranmore 43
- Flax Bourton CE Primary School, Flax Bourton 36
- Bruton Primary School, Bruton 24
- Downs Preparatory School, Wraxall 23
- Birdwell Primary School, Long Ashton 22
- Backwell CE Junior School, Backwell 19
- Taunton Preparatory School, Taunton 17
- Rode Methodist First School, Rode 15
- Oakfield Academy, Frome 15
- St Nicholas Chantry CE Primary School, Clevedon 14
- Yeo Moor Primary School, Clevedon 13
- Backwell School, Backwell 12
- Queen's College, Taunton 12
- St Peter's CE Primary School, Portishead 11
- West Buckland Primary School, West Buckland 11
- Wellington School, Wellington 11
- Milverton Community Primary School, Milverton 10
- Upton Noble CE Primary School, Upton Noble 10
- Wells Cathedral School, Wells 9
- Wrington CE Primary School, Wrington 9
- West Pennard CE Primary School, West Pennard 9
- Selwood Academy, Frome 8
- Vallis First School, Frome 8
- Wrington C of E Primary School 8
- Homeschool 8
- Beckington CE First School, Beckington 7
- Countess Gytha Primary School, Queen Camel 7
- Golden Valley Primary School, Nailsea 7
- Portishead Primary School, Portishead 7
- Trinity CE First School, Frome 7
- Nether Stowey CE Primary School, Nether Stowey 7
- High Down Junior School, Portishead 7
- West Leigh Infant School, Backwell 7
- Wraxall CE Primary School, Wraxall 7
- Shipham CE First School, Shipham 7
- Horsington Church School, Horsington 6
- Hazlegrove Preparatory School, Sparkford 6
- Hugh Sexey CE Middle School, Blackford 6
- Tatworth Primary School, Tatworth 6
- Gordano School, Portishead 6
- Keinton Mandeville Primary School, Keinton Mandeville 6
- Chestnut Park Primary, North End 6
- High Down Infant School, Portishead 6
- St Joseph and St Teresa RC Primary School, Wells 5
- Not yet at school 5
- Huish Primary School, Yeovil 5
- Wookey Primary School, Wookey 5
- Mells CE First School, Mells 5
- Blagdon Primary School, Blagdon 5
- Lympsham CE Academy, Lympsham 5
- Trinity Anglican Methodist Primary 5
- Grove Junior School, Nailsea 4
- Ditcheat Primary School, Ditcheat 4
- Northleaze CE Primary School, Long Ashton 4
- North Town Academy, Taunton 4
- St Vigor and St John Church School, Chilcompton 4
- Milford Junior School, Yeovil 4
- Neroche Primary School, Ilminster 4
- Norton St Philip CE First School, Norton St Philip 4
- Crockerne CE Primary School, Pill 3
- Hambridge Community Primary School, Hambridge 3
- Hayesdown First School, Frome 3
- St John's CE Infants School, Glastonbury 3
- South Petherton CE Infants School, South Petherton 3
- Trinity Anglican-Methodist Primary School, Portishead 3
- Sidcot School, Winscombe 3
- Taunton School, Taunton 3
- Bishop Henderson CE Primary School, Taunton 3
- West Monkton CE School, Monkton Heathfield 3
- The Castle School, Taunton 3
- Westover Green Community School, Bridgwater 2
- Yatton Infant School, Yatton 2
- Wellesley Park Primary School, Wellington 2
- Castle Cary Community Primary School, Castle Cary 2
- Merriott First School, Merriott 2
- Parkfield Primary School, Taunton 2
- Springmead Preparatory School, Beckington 2
- Martock CE Primary School, Martock 2
- Holy Trinity Church School, Yeovil 2
- Gordano Secondary 2
- Stoberry Park School, Wells 2
- Ash CE Primary School, Ash 2
- Uphill Village Academy, Uphill 2
- Mark First & Pre School CE Academy, Mark 2
- Downside School, Stratton-on-the-Fosse 2
- Hannah More Infant School, Nailsea 2
- St John the Evangalist Church School, Clevedon 2
- Wiveliscombe Primary School, Wiveliscombe 2
- Thurlbear CE Primary School, Thurlbear 2
- Priddy Primary School, Priddy 2
- Castle Primary School, Stoke-sub-Hamdon 2
- Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School, Kingsbury Episcopi 2
- Churchill CE Primary School, Lower Langford 2
- Staplegrove Church School, Staplegrove 2
- Worlebury St Pauls CE First School, Weston-super-Mare 2
- Cheddar First School, Cheddar 2
- Ashcombe Primary School, Weston-super-Mare 2
- Evercreech CE Primary School, Evercreech 2
- Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe 2
- Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Taunton 2
- Sexey's School, Bruton[12] 2
- Norton-Sub-Hamdon CE Primary School, Norton Sub Hamdon 1
- Trull CE Primary School, Trull 1
- Creech St Michael CE Primary School, Creech St Michael 1
- Oaklands Primary School, Yeovil 1
- Berkley CE First School, Berkley 1
- St Aldhelm's CE Primary School, Doulting 1
- Danesfield CE Middle School, Williton 1
- Hinton St George CE Primary School, Hinton St George 1
- Shepton Beauchamp Church School, Shepton Beauchamp 1
- Crispin School, Street[7] 1
- West Chinnock CE Primary School, West Chinnock 1
- Preston School, Yeovil 1
- The Blue School, Wells 1
- Churchfield Church School, Highbridge 1
- Huish Episcopi Academy, Huish Episcopi 1
- Kilmersdon CE Primary School, Kilmersdon 1
- Fairlands Middle School, Cheddar 1
- Axbridge CE First School Academy, Axbridge 1
- Mendip Green Primary School, Worle 1
- Hill View School, Martock 1
- St Mary and St Peter's Church School, Ilton 1
- St Katherine's School, Ham Green 1
- South Petherton Junior School, South Petherton 1
- Weare Academy First School, Weare 1
- Maiden Beech Academy, Crewkerne 1
- Oakhill Church School, Oakhill 1
- St Cuthbert's CE Junior School, Wells 1
- North Curry CE Primary School, North Curry 1
The petition was put together by grassroots movement 'Smartphone Free Childhood', who hope that the petition will push for a future of schools without smartphones.
Describing themselves as an accidental movement, friends and founders Daisy and Clare set up a WhatsApp group in February to support each other in the decision to hold off on buying their kids smartphones. Within 24 hours, thousands of other parents had joined the group after an Instagram post by Daisy went viral.
The initial group quickly maxed out at 1,000 members, so they encouraged people to set up local groups to build the conversation in their areas. Within hours, more than 60 Smartphone Free Childhood WhatsApp groups had launched across the length and breadth of Britain, kicking off a national conversation about the harms of smartphones for children.
Smartphone Free Childhood said: "We’re on mission to change the cultural norm that children are given smartphones, and challenge Big Tech’s ever-increasing colonisation of childhood."
It has three three clear goals:
- 1. Growing the national conversation about the harms of smartphones for children.
- Empowering parents and schools to take collective action and create change at a local level.
- Putting pressure on government and tech companies to help us protect our children.
You can read more about the movement and follow the results of the petition here: www.SmartphoneFreeChildhood.co.uk
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