Bid to make Newquay schools smartphone free

A Newquay schoolteacher has launched a campaign for the town's schools to become smartphone free.

Charlotte Seyfert, who has taught secondary-age children for 17 years, is supporting the Smartphone Free Childhood grassroots movement.

Last week, she called on Newquay Town councillors to support her campaign. 

On Friday Mrs Seyfert is holding an information event for concerned parents across Newquay. The event will take place at St Columb Minor Academy at 9am.

She is urging parents to start a conversation with friends, family, children, co-parents, or anyone else they would like to discuss the issue with. She highlights resources including:

• Nip in the Bud podcast featuring Dr. Susie Davies who founded charity Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adolescents (PAPAYA)
• Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones – a 2024 Channel 4 documentary on the use of smartphones by secondary school children
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – a bestselling book that contextualises the issues related to smartphone and social media use and offers great suggestions for moving forward. The book includes accessible research.

PRESS PLAY to hear our conversation with Charlotte...