Leeds City Council is rallying schools across the city to participate in the ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ campaign, urging children and young people to take a break from their electronic devices for a week.
Set for October 21-25, the initiative aims to promote a healthier balance in smart device usage among students. The call to action is supported by findings from the council’s annual ‘My Health My School’ survey for the 2022-23 academic year, which revealed significant screen time among students. According to the survey, 54% of the 5,874 pupils in years five and six reported spending at least two hours daily on screens. The figures are even higher among older students: 77% of 6,384 respondents from years seven, nine, and 11 exceeded two hours of screen time per day, and the number increased to 85% among the 293 post-16 students surveyed.
Both primary and secondary schools across Leeds are encouraged to join this impactful campaign, which seeks to foster mindful technology use and enhance students’ well-being. The ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ week offers a variety of activities and projects for students and their families, aiming to promote healthier and more mindful engagement with smart devices, thereby improving mental health and social interactions.
This initiative is a joint effort between the Leeds City Council’s Health and Wellbeing Service and local psychologist and psychotherapist Dr. Charlotte Armitage, who is also the creator of the ‘No Phones At Home Day’. A successful pilot run in March engaged over 5,000 students from 13 Leeds schools, demonstrating the campaign’s potential impact.
Building on this success, the initiative is expanding, with the upcoming week from October 21-25 set to be the first of three scheduled sessions for this academic year. Future weeks are planned for March and June 2025, with hopes of increasing participation across more schools in Leeds.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:
“Smart devices are an intrinsic part of our lives however we know that becoming overly dependent on them is not healthy for our mental, physical or emotional wellbeing. ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ week underlines our commitment to support the wellbeing of our students and we’ve worked hard to create an informative, engaging and relevant programme for schools to get involved with.
“The campaign provides teachers, students and parents with the tools and information they need to make better and more informed choices when it comes to their smart device use and is a great opportunity for adults to be mindful about their own device use too.”
One of the schools which took part in the March pilot week was Manor Wood Primary School in Moortown.
Teacher Becky Hayes said: “I think it’s crucial for primary school children to be mindful of their screen time, including phones, tablets and gaming, and we’ve been encouraging this in our school for a number of years.
“The positive feedback from both children and parents when our years five and six pupils gave up their devices for the week in March, was overwhelming. They explored lots of alternative activities and it fostered family bonding, with the children eagerly sharing their new experiences such as walking, visiting parks, forests and playing board games.
“We’re excited to continue this tradition and encourage more and more of our children to take time out from their screens.”
Dr Charlotte Armitage said: “There has previously been a bigger focus on the content that children are exposed to online, rather than looking at the impact that the amount of time they spend on devices is having on their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. By encouraging children to disconnect from devices, we hope they will start to recognise the benefits of time off screens.
“The pilot Disconnect to Reconnect week was a brilliant opportunity to encourage students, teachers and parents to discuss their smart device use and reflect on the effect it has on their lives. Feedback suggests it had a significant impact on participating students who reported feeling more present and engaged when reducing their time spent on devices.
“We’re excited to bring this initiative back for even more schools and pupils to take part.”
The ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ offers a variety of activities designed to shift focus from digital screens to real-world interactions. Schools across Leeds are encouraged to participate by organizing events and projects that promote physical activities, reading, arts and crafts, and community involvement — endeavors that do not require a screen.
The ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ week is not just a temporary retreat from digital devices; it’s part of a comprehensive approach to foster a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for the younger generation. By participating, schools and families in Leeds are taking a significant step towards empowering their children with the skills needed to navigate both digital and real-world environments effectively.
For more information on the ‘Disconnect to Reconnect’ week and details on how to participate, visit the Leeds For Learning website or contact schoolwellbeing@leeds.gov.uk
To learn more about the ‘No Phones At Home Day’ campaign, please visit the HOME – No Phones At Home Day website.
