Latest news with #schoolban
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Dive-bombing buzzard terrorises primary school
A dive-bombing buzzard has forced a primary school to ban pupils from going outside during breaktime following a spate of attacks. Children at Dame Tipping Primary School in Havering-atte-Bower, north-east London, have had to stay inside since Easter for fear of the bird of prey. The bird has been terrorising villagers for months, but because buzzards are a protected species, the school says there is 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban. The case strikes a startling resemblance to another bird of prey, a Harris Hawk nicknamed 'Bomber Harris' that attacked more than 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, in March. Bomber Harris was eventually caught and later adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer. Stella McCarthy, the headteacher of the school, said the 'difficult decision' to ban outdoor play was made after the buzzard became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' 'Dead shocked' The school rule comes after several incidents in the Greater London village, located north of Romford, with one woman claiming she was 'dive-bombed' by the buzzard while walking in the park in March. Nikki Dix, 37, said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken aback by it. He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like, 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds – and have even named the buzzard 'Brenda'. Louise Whittle, a parents of one of the school's pupils, also narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard. She said Dame Tipping has handled the issue 'brilliantly'. Footage shows the moment the buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mother's head. Ms Whittle said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people. But the school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children – they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' However, Ms Whittle added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Ms McCarthy said: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust minibus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional boardgames, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' Dame Tipping has been liaising with Havering council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and hiring a falconry expert. A Havering council spokesman said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. ' Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Ban smartphones in schools, Starmer told – by the country that's done it
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to consider the 'overwhelming evidence' from New Zealand to consider banning smart phones from schools. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, New Zealand's education minister Erica Stanford said she has heard 'overwhelmingly positive feedback' about the world-leading phone ban in her country, with more engagement and less cyberbullying in schools. The New Zealand National Party government now hopes to take it further and introduce a ban on social media for under-16s. It comes as Sir Keir's government is under increasing pressure to introduce similar measures in English schools, with the Tories and campaign groups pressing for a ban. New Zealand's government introduced a ban on mobile phones in schools last year. Ms Stanford told The Independent: 'I've been told students are much more focused on their learning in class, they are engaging with their peers, reading more books, spending more time playing outside and there are fewer reports of cyber-bullying. 'I am committed to ensuring children are not only safe but remain focused in the classroom. Taking away the distraction of cell phones ensures better engagement in class and improves student achievement and wellbeing.' In the UK, a recent push by the Tories to add an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would require schools to prohibit phone use during the school day, was shut down by the government. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged ministers to reconsider after Sir Keir Starmer labelled the amendment as 'completely unnecessary', claiming 'almost every school' already bans phones. Ms Badenoch claimed: 'The prime minister is wrong: not all schools do this. Only one in 10 schools is smartphone-free.' Despite the government's stance, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has commissioned a review into 'whether schools in England are banning children's phones and whether bans are effective'. In New Zealand, the National Party's election promise was greeted with scepticism, criticism, and an assumption that students would become sneakier. Now, it's being praised by students and educators. Anna Wilson, acting principle of Wellington East Girls' College in the nation's capital, said the state-funded school has seen only positive results from the ban. She said: 'We see a lot more social interaction at break times, such as playing cards, volleyball on the courts, joining in on lunchtime activities and clubs that are student-led.' The nationwide ban came into effect in April last year, but Ms Wilson's school introduced the policy slightly ahead of the nationwide rollout, embedding it firmly into school life from the start of the year, 'and the momentum continued across the year.' Although they took charge with the ban, she said, 'the government policy across all schools was helpful as collectively each school was doing it at their campuses at the same time'. Fred Oppenhuis, head prefect of Wellington College, an all-boys secondary school, told The Independent the ban had a positive impact on students. He said: 'I think that the phone ban has significantly increased engagement and efficiency in class because students know that if they check their phone or bring it out without teacher permission, there are well-known consequences.' Oppenhuis said the initial reaction came with concerns as the thought of not having a phone at school was 'daunting'. But, he said it didn't take long for students to adjust, and most students said it wasn't as bad as they had anticipated. One of the loudest advocates for phone-free schools has been Jonathan Haidt, a prominent US social psychologist and author of the bestselling book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. She said that two years after schools go completely phone-free, they always seem to report big drops in disciplinary problems and increases in student engagement in class. 'My favourite outcome: teachers and administrators say 'we hear laughter in the hallway again'.' The New Zealand ban applies to all state schools and expects cell phones to be off and away during day, however, schools are allowed to decide how to enforce it. Mobile phones can only be used for educational purposes, however, there is an exemption for students who need their phones for learning challenges or health reasons. Parents and guardians must contact their child by going to the school office. However, some doubts have been raised by the Labour Party in New Zealand. Willow-Jean Prime, the New Zealand Labour opposition's spokeswoman for education, told The Independent: 'It is important young people are able to focus at school, and phones can be a distraction; but on the flip side, many students need cell phones, for example for accessibility reasons. 'In New Zealand, it is individual school boards of trustees that set the rules for the operation of schools. Schools have always been able to ban cell phones at school if they believe this is appropriate, and many already did."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
School's average exam results jump entire grade after phone ban
A school's average exam results improved by an entire grade after mobile phones were banned. A-Level results at Excelsior Academy in Hackney, east London, improved from a grade C average to B over a year, official statistics show. Omar Deria, the 45-year-old headmaster, credited the improvement to a new ban on students using their mobile phones in school. He said the new rules, which see phones confiscated for up to a week if pupils are caught using them in lessons, had a 'miraculous' effect. Mr Deria, who joined the school in 2022, said: 'On my first day, the first thing that I noticed was students glued to their phones scrolling. 'If I am honest, it was a struggle at first. It is the most important thing in their lives and they struggle when it is taken. They may not be happy in the moment, but on results day, they thank us. 'The impact in the classroom has been nothing short of miraculous. You are dealing with completely different people, their personalities are different. 'They are more articulate, chattier, nicer, more engaged, not just with the learning but with other people in general.' The Government has opposed measures to introduce a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, saying it was unnecessary because headmasters could introduce their own restrictions. The success of the measure at Excelsior Academy contradicts a University of Birmingham study, which in February found the bans do not improve children's marks or mental health. Mr Deria claimed 90 per cent of the school's behavioural issues came from 'online'. 'It gets brought into school and then that takes up a lot of our time,' he said. 'Kids have a completely different personality online. There are so many truly lovely students who go online and become unrecognisable. 'If we can ban phones, then we can reduce peer-on-peer abuse and sexual harassment. If mobile phones are not banned in your school, then they are asking for trouble.' Mr Deria's pupils expressed praise for the policy, saying it was a 'great thing'. Cilen Garip, 17, who hopes to study law at university, said: 'It really encourages us to learn. Students were always on their phones in their free time, and it distracted not only them but the people around them. 'They would show a funny video around and it would distract the whole room. Now we can use that time to revise, and I think we get a lot more done. I don't even bother bringing my phone in anymore. I don't miss it.' Hamz Hussain, 16, who wishes to study engineering at university, said: 'It has really helped me to focus and revise more. Sometimes I miss it but that makes me realise how distracting they can be. 'Since it started in September, I have found myself revising way more. It means that all our work is finished in school and we can enjoy free time more at home. I appreciate having my phone in the evening more now that it is gone in the daytime.' Another student, Falma Hashi, said: 'Since we can't have mobile phones at school, I have become a lot more open to group social activities. 'Yesterday we played some card games and just talked rather than all sitting alone on our phones, head down, not talking. When you are on your phone, you spend a lot of time comparing yourself to people who seem to have this amazing life. 'When you are with your peers, you don't do that as much. You see, everyone is really the same as you, without the filters.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Telegraph
School's average exam results jump entire grade after phone ban
A school's average exam results improved by an entire grade after mobile phones were banned. A-Level results at Excelsior Academy in Hackney, east London, improved from a grade C average to B over a year, official statistics show. Omar Deria, the 45-year-old headmaster, credited the improvement to a new ban on students using their mobile phones in school. He said the new rules, which see phones confiscated for up to a week if pupils are caught using them in lessons, had a 'miraculous' effect. Mr Deria, who joined the school in 2022, said: 'On my first day, the first thing that I noticed was students glued to their phones scrolling. 'If I am honest, it was a struggle at first. It is the most important thing in their lives and they struggle when it is taken. They may not be happy in the moment, but on results day, they thank us. 'The impact in the classroom has been nothing short of miraculous. You are dealing with completely different people, their personalities are different. 'They are more articulate, chattier, nicer, more engaged, not just with the learning but with other people in general.' Starmer rules out ban The Government has opposed measures to introduce a nationwide ban on mobile phones in schools, saying it was unnecessary because headmasters could introduce their own restrictions. The success of the measure at Excelsior Academy contradicts a University of Birmingham study, which in February found the bans do not improve children's marks or mental health. Mr Deria claimed 90 per cent of the school's behavioural issues came from 'online'. 'It gets brought into school and then that takes up a lot of our time,' he said. 'Kids have a completely different personality online. There are so many truly lovely students who go online and become unrecognisable. 'If we can ban phones, then we can reduce peer-on-peer abuse and sexual harassment. If mobile phones are not banned in your school, then they are asking for trouble.' Mr Deria's pupils expressed praise for the policy, saying it was a 'great thing'. Cilen Garip, 17, who hopes to study law at university, said: 'It really encourages us to learn. Students were always on their phones in their free time, and it distracted not only them but the people around them. 'They would show a funny video around and it would distract the whole room. Now we can use that time to revise, and I think we get a lot more done. I don't even bother bringing my phone in anymore. I don't miss it.' 'I find myself revising more' Hamz Hussain, 16, who wishes to study engineering at university, said: 'It has really helped me to focus and revise more. Sometimes I miss it but that makes me realise how distracting they can be. 'Since it started in September, I have found myself revising way more. It means that all our work is finished in school and we can enjoy free time more at home. I appreciate having my phone in the evening more now that it is gone in the daytime.' Another student, Falma Hashi, said: 'Since we can't have mobile phones at school, I have become a lot more open to group social activities. 'Yesterday we played some card games and just talked rather than all sitting alone on our phones, head down, not talking. When you are on your phone, you spend a lot of time comparing yourself to people who seem to have this amazing life. 'When you are with your peers, you don't do that as much. You see, everyone is really the same as you, without the filters.'
