Elite UK Boarding School Eton College Swaps Students' Smartphones for Nokia 'Bricks'

Starting this fall, teenagers attending Eton College will trade their smartphones for basic Nokia feature phones. The prestigious all-boys UK boarding school, alma mater to Princes William and Harry, Tom Hiddleston, and Eddie Redmayne, will require its youngest students to use phones that can only make calls and send texts.

From September, Year 9 students (aged 13) will exchange their smartphones for Nokia "bricks" that lack internet access. These students will place their SIM cards into the Nokia phones and send their iPhones or Samsung Galaxy phones home with their parents. The specific model of Nokia phone is not mentioned, but the brand recently launched a series of sleek, colorful 4G feature phones.

Eton College will not leave students entirely disconnected from modern technology, as they will be issued school iPads. The duration for which students must use the Nokia phones is not specified. However, Eton has enforced age-appropriate controls and banned smartphones in classrooms since 2018, a move that initially faced resistance. Additionally, students in the lower three grades must surrender their electronics at night.

Mike Grenier, Eton’s Deputy Head overseeing pastoral care, explained the decision by highlighting the challenges and concerns associated with smartphone use, particularly regarding socialization, misuse, and the impact on mental and physical health. This policy reflects a broader trend, with other UK schools and some US public districts implementing similar rules. In the US, the necessity for smartphones in schools often stems from safety concerns, such as the ability to contact children during emergencies.