King Edward’s School, Bath (KES) has launched a new pilot scheme designed to help Sixth Form pupils develop healthier relationships with their smartphones.
The initiative, introduced this term, sees students trialling NOVI, an innovative digital wellbeing platform created by students at the University of Bristol. The scheme aims to support focus, wellbeing and responsible phone use during both study periods and social time at school.
The pilot builds on KES’s established approach to mobile phones for younger pupils. Students in Years 7–11 already follow a phone-free policy supported by Yondr pouches, while parents are encouraged to delay giving smartphones to children starting Senior School in Year 7.
The move comes amid increasing national attention on smartphone use in education, including proposals within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that could introduce expectations around phone-free school days.
At KES, the approach in Sixth Form reflects a shift towards independence and self-regulation. Rather than banning phones outright, the NOVI platform allows pupils to take control of their own digital habits.
Using a simple ‘tap-in’ system when entering the Sixth Form Centre, students activate a personalised Focus Mode on their phones. They can choose which apps to block during study time, such as social media, while still allowing access to essentials like music, emergency calls or medical apps.
Will Quayle, Deputy Head (Pastoral) at the Senior School, said, “We hope this will be a positive step in supporting pupils to engage fully with their learning and with one another whilst at school. We recognise that this pilot is just one part of a broader approach to digital wellbeing.
“As part of our Learning for Life programme, we remain committed to helping our pupils build a healthy relationship with technology and we will continue to work closely with parents to ensure that clear and healthy boundaries are in place both at school and beyond the school gates.”
Luke Benedict, Head of Sixth Form, added, “In the Sixth Form, the NOVI pilot supports the same principle as lower down in the Senior School, giving pupils the tools to manage their own digital focus.
“As they near the end of their school careers, our responsibility is to help students prepare for life beyond King Edward’s. This pilot supports pupils during independent study and social time at school, while encouraging them to develop the autonomy, judgement and digital habits they will need in the next stage of their lives.”
The trial will run throughout the summer term, including the internal examination period. Feedback from staff and students will then be gathered to assess how digital tools like NOVI can support concentration and study culture.
NOVI was founded by a group of final-year students at the University of Bristol and is already being piloted in schools across the city, as well as within the university itself. The start-up has received backing from Bethnal Green Ventures and funding through the University of Bristol’s Runway Awards.
As national expectations continue to evolve, KES says it remains committed to combining clear boundaries with education and collaboration with families, helping pupils build sustainable digital habits for the future.
