23 Sep 2024

School's No-Phone Policy is the Way Forward

Headlines are returning again and again to the issue of mobile phone usage for young people and the negative effect it has on mental health, well being and a child's ability to socialise. School leaders across the country are all looking at this more closely and there is a roll out of change introducing tougher restrictions on phone usage.

However, for one school in Somerset, this approach is nothing new. Hazlegrove Prep School has had an ongoing no phone policy for many years and often describes itself as an 'unplugged school'. Whilst children learn how to use technology in a respectable and informed way, (all children from Year 6 create work on iPads), neither children or staff can be seen walking around the school site on their phones - at any time.

Headmaster, Ed Benbow , comments, ' One of the many attractions of a school like Hazlegrove, is that we provide an environment where children can be children, enjoy the great outdoors, and develop a profound sense of curiosity, creativity and confidence. We want to help preserve that sense of childhood whilst providing our children with responsibility and leadership experience, such that they are fully prepared, emotionally, and academically, for the exciting challenge of senior school at 13.

Integral to our nurturing environment is our “no-phone” policy, which has always been strictly adhered to at Hazlegrove, both by our pupils and as importantly by our staff. I vividly recall attending the new staff induction on my first day here as Head, and one of the first things I was told by my Deputy Head, in no uncertain terms, was that my phone was never to be seen in use in front of the children.

We do, of course, promote and educate the use of technology through our use of iPads within our curriculum, but we also recognise that separation from personal phone use plays a key part in protecting our children from the pitfalls of social media and addictive behaviour patterns. It also has a far-reaching impact on the development of their human social interaction, self-awareness, empathy, and a deeper understanding of nature and the world around them. I often talk to our parents about the importance of the “UFO” effect that a no-phone policy fosters, namely the ability to look Up, Forward and Out. This approach is no less important for my staff, who can provide our children with their undivided attention, whilst also cultivating their own sense of wonder, and building a more personal bond with their colleagues.

It is very encouraging to see recent government commentary placing more emphasis on this approach within education, and many senior schools already supporting their pupils with a more formalised reduction in the use of personal phones. Together we will help our children to grow into bright, curious young adults, with a more balanced appreciation of the world around them, as well as a greater sense of self'.

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06 Sep 2024

Pupils at Hazlegrove Prep School awarded a prestigious Eco-Schools’ Green Flag

The Eco-Schools programme, established in 1994, is now implemented in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2023-24, more than 1.4 million pupils attended an Eco-School in England.

Pupils at Hazlegrove used Eco-Schools’ tried-and-trusted seven-step framework to create positive change. Initially, a pupil-led Eco-Committee was established. This committee took responsibility for spearheading their school’s environmental initiatives, with support from Amanda Benbow. They first conducted a thorough review of their school environment and curriculum, before developing a year-long plan of action.

Their Action Plan focussed on key issues: improving recycling, to enhance the environment, creating more areas for wildlife and exploring potential for growing more produce, and addressing food waste. Activities included analysing single use plastic with the catering team, creating a recycling fashion club, ensuring paper recycling in all of the classrooms, also identifying areas to re-wild as well as working on a kitchen garden project and regenerate the school pond. These activities were thoughtfully selected to increase environmental awareness, bolster the school’s sustainability, and make meaningful contributions to global conservation efforts.

Speaking about their achievements, Amanda Benbow said, 'It has been fantastic to see the eco-enthusiasm of the pupils at Hazlegrove, and their passion to improve practices and change mindsets was the driving force behind the projects we undertook over the last year. Thanks to them we are helping Hazlegrove to become a more environmentally considerate and sustainable community.’

Eco-Schools England Manager, Adam Flint, said: ‘The Eco-Schools’ Green Flag is an international benchmark that demonstrates a commitment to fighting climate change and high standard of sustainable practice. Students and staff who earn this award deserve recognition for their dedication toward protecting our planet. Every day, they demonstrate that each of us can contribute to making our planet a better, more sustainable, place.’

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05 Sep 2024

Hazlegrove's 1000 Year Old Oak makes it to The Tree of the Year Award Shortlist

The Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year Award celebrates twelve magnificent oak trees around the UK. These wonderful trees can live for over 1,000 years, support more wildlife than any other native tree and the UK is home to more ancient oaks than the rest of Europe combined. From titans of temperate rainforest to the UK’s widest oak, the 2024 shortlist features some of the biggest and boldest examples of UK wildlife.

The Woodland Trust is campaigning to ensure more robust legal protection for our most valuable trees, so it was an obvious choice to put this outstanding species in the spotlight for Tree of the Year 2024. Dr Kate Lewthwaite, Citizen Science Manager at the Woodland Trust, said, 'We chose the iconic oak because it captures people’s imaginations – from their leaves to their acorns, these trees are ingrained in our heritage – and the ancients are so impressive in terms of their sheer size and age. Some oaks that are alive today were already centuries old at the time of Queen Elizabeth I, or Charles Darwin.

It’s humbling to think how many events these trees have lived through, and that reaching full maturity they can stand for hundreds of years as ancient trees – all the while continuing to provide vital habitat as they hollow and produce dead wood. Each individual oak is like a unique, miniature nature reserve. There are so many species that live and rely on them, and have evolved alongside them, it is incredible.”

The King John Oak at Hazlegrove has an estimated age of 1000 years and measures an impressive 10.74 metres around its trunk. Growing in the grounds of the school, the tree was already 500 years old when the school was founded in 1519 and has watched over countless generations of children on the Hazlegrove site since 1947.

Conservation is a hot topic at the school as Hazlegrove has recently been awarded the Green Flag Eco Status for which they gained a distinction. Headmaster Ed Benbow said, 'What an honour to be custodians of this remarkable ancient oak tree. It is an incredible example to us all at Hazlegrove showing strength and resilience and provides a home for a host of different wildlife. It inspires creativity in our children and embodies our mission to nurture our environment'.

The school looks forward to the results later this year.

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