Dozens of parents have agreed to give their children smartphone-free childhoods, a top school has said.

Staff at Ballard School, in New Milton, say around 77 families have signed up to the scheme.

It comes after the fee-paying school banned phones in school hours around three years ago.

Upper Prep and Senior School pupils who need to bring a phone to school must store it in a secure, lockable case, which can only be opened with a special device at the end of the school day.

Headteacher Andrew McCleave described the move as a “real game changer” for the school, with pupils spending more time outdoors, socialising, and focusing on their studies without distractions.

Now the school is encouraging families to extend these benefits beyond the school day by supporting a smartphone-free childhood.

The school is actively promoting the use of ‘dummy’ phones - devices with only basic calling and messaging capabilities - for children under 16.

Andy Marshall, deputy head (pastoral) at Ballard School, said: “I first raised the idea of a ‘Ballard Parent Pact’ in our parent newsletter back in November and have been so encouraged by the response.

“For children to develop emotionally, they need real-life experiences.

“Smartphones act as ‘experience blockers,’ taking away hours of potential free playtime - ultimately having a negative effect on children’s emotional development.”

The impact of removing phones during school hours alone has already been overwhelmingly positive, added Mr McCleave.

He said: “Minibuses are noisier, children spend more time outside running around, they just get on better - and there’s no temptation to react to a buzzing phone in a blazer during a lesson.”

The school’s senior leadership team reports many benefits, widely acknowledged by pupils, staff, and parents.

These include improved focus and learning among pupils, with Ballard achieving record GCSE results in recent years.

Mr Marshall also noted that pupils are “more likely to engage in meaningful face-to-face conversations with peers, fostering communication skills, friendships, and a sense of community” and are “more engaged in physical activity during breaktimes.”