Prestigious Eton College Ditches Smartphones for New Students
Eton College, a renowned British boarding school that counts princes and prime ministers among its alumni, is implementing a stricter policy on smartphones. Effective September, incoming students will be barred from bringing smartphones onto school grounds.
This decision follows the U.K. government’s support for school principals. The principals restrict cellphone use during school hours to minimize distractions. This also helps enhance classroom behavior.
Trading Smartphones for Basic Phones

Instead of smartphones, Eton will furnish new students (aged 13) with basic Nokia phones like the Nokia 105 (2024), capable only of calls and texts. These “brick phones” can be used outside of school. Additionally, students will receive school-issued iPads specifically for academic purposes.
Previous Policy and Unchanged Rules for Older Students
Previously, Eton mandated first-year students to surrender their phones overnight. The new policy solely applies to incoming year 9 students, the equivalent of freshman year in the U.S. There’s no mention of changes for older year groups, suggesting their existing phone policy remains in effect.
A Reflection of Broader Concerns
Eton’s move mirrors a growing anxiety regarding smartphones’ influence on young people. With nearly all U.K. children owning a cellphone by age 12, schools are struggling to address issues like distraction, mental health, and cyberbullying. By limiting smartphone access, Eton hopes to foster a more focused learning environment and potentially mitigate these concerns for its new student body.