As schools across the UK take part in Anti-Bullying Week (10–14 November), a York-based family business is helping headteachers reduce pupils’ phone use during the school day, in a bid to limit bullying and improve wellbeing.
A 2025 report from the Royal College of General Practitioners found that 12-year-olds now spend an average of 29 hours a week on their smartphones – more than four hours every day.
Locker Space supplies signal-blocking phone pouches to schools to help limit mobile use and keep pupils focused on learning. More than 100 schools across England are already using the pouches, with positive feedback from staff and parents.
The initiative comes at a time of year when online bullying and harassment often increase. During the darker winter months, young people tend to spend more time indoors and on social media. Experts warn this can lead to higher levels of anxiety and online conflict.
According to Ofcom’s Children’s Media Literacy Report 2025, girls remain more likely than boys to experience nasty or hurtful interactions online. The report found that 34% of girls said they had experienced this, compared with 28% of boys, reflecting a continuing gender imbalance.
“The evidence is overwhelming that social media affects girls differently,” said Lucy Naughton, Project Co-ordinator at Locker Space.
“By helping schools to limit phone use during the day, we are giving girls room to breathe and reducing the constant comparison, messaging and surveillance that can feed bullying.”
The Girlguiding Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2025 found that 75% of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 had faced online harm in the past year, while 57% said they felt unable to step away from social media because of FOMO – the fear of missing out.
This year’s Anti-Bullying Week theme, Power for Good, aims to encourage children and young people to speak up, support others and help create a more positive environment both in and out of school.
“We receive a lot of positive feedback from schools and parents,” added Lucy. “Not allowing the use of phones during the school day means pupils are less distracted in lessons, bullying reduces, and behaviour across the whole school improves.”
