No phones, no smartwatches: private schools crack down

Sunday, 5 April 2026

Risks of “bullying, self-harm, negative self-esteem and behavioural problems” prompt some of Auckland’s wealthiest schools to go further than the Government’s classroom phone ban, reports Amelia Wade.

Some of Auckland’s wealthiest schools are going further than the Government’s classroom phone ban, banning smartphones and smartwatches from school grounds entirely amid growing concern about addiction, bullying and harm to young people.

King’s College, Kristin School and Diocesan School for Girls have all adopted stricter rules, arguing the move is needed to protect students’ learning, wellbeing and social development.

Diocesan principal Heather McRae said the school’s decision was driven by what was best for students.

“We’ve seen growing evidence that major tech platforms, including Meta and Google, have prioritised engagement over wellbeing - designing algorithms that are intentionally addictive and, in many cases, harmful to young people,” she said.

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McRae pointed to lawsuits in the United States, where social media companies are being sued over claims they designed harmful and addictive products. Last week, a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for harm caused to a 20-year-old woman.

“The recent court findings reinforce what many educators and parents have long suspected: these platforms can have a profound and negative impact on mental health, attention and development,” McRae told the Sunday Star-Times.

“Schools shouldn’t be passive in the face of this; we have a duty to create environments where young people are protected, present and able to thrive.

“At Dio, by removing these constant digital distractions, we’re helping students to actually connect - with each other, their teachers and their learning. It’s about giving them the space to be present, focus and build those important relationships without the constant buzz of notifications.”

McRae said families had strongly backed the move, and the school had already seen students using breaks to talk and spend time together, alongside a noticeable lift in engagement and concentration.

At King’s School, a Remuera private school which teaches from pre-school to year eight, principal Tony Sissons told parents last year he was increasingly concerned about the effect smartphones and smartwatches could have on young people.

The school surveyed more than 500 members of its community and found 90% were either somewhat or extremely concerned, while 95% supported tighter limits on the devices.

Since the start of this year, boys have been allowed to bring only basic phones capable of calling and texting so they can contact parents or caregivers. Those phones are kept in a lockbox during the school day and managed by teachers.

“Watches should only be capable of telling the time,” Sissons wrote in a newsletter.

Any smartphone or smartwatch brought to school would be confiscated.

“Research shows that [the devices] may increase the risk of bullying, self-harm, negative self-esteem and behavioural problems. As a school we are not immune from this,” he said.

King’s College, which takes students from year nine and charges about $33,400 a year for non-boarders, has also signalled growing concern about smart devices and social media.

In an update to parents last year, then-principal Simon Lamb, who has since left the school, said social media was designed to create reward, capture attention and “in essence create an addiction”.

Despite efforts to limit access on school iPads, students were finding ways around restrictions, prompting the college to block new VPNs.

“I think it is important to teach our young people about the addictive nature of social media and gaming and help them develop their own moderating behaviours which can assist them in the long term,” Lamb said.

He suggested parents could delay access to devices, such as allowing them after an hour of study, to help build self-management.

Lamb also warned that social media was fuelling bullying and said parents needed to know what their children were doing online.

“The College has been dealing with and supporting some families through some quite nasty online bullying in recent weeks. In nearly every case, this arose from outside the College, through other teenagers or events happening beyond the College gates.”

On the North Shore, Kristin School has also banned smartphones and smartwatches.

In a newsletter to families, the school said a survey of 586 respondents found 92% favoured either a total ban or allowing only basic phones if absolutely necessary.

Kristin said the policy was intended to improve focus, engagement and concentration in class, protect students from online harm and inappropriate digital influences, and strengthen face-to-face interaction.

“We genuinely believe this change will be one of the most positive steps we can take for our students’ wellbeing, development and learning.”

King’s and Kristin did not respond to requests for comment.