This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter.

When school is back in session this autumn term, all campuses in the city of Edinburgh will be phone-free.

The reality is that, as with all rules and regulations, there will be those who find ways to get around the restrictions. The city’s chosen method for implementing its “bell to bell” phone ban is lockable pouches, a recent phenomenon in education marketing that sells schools a presumably simple solution to a nagging problem at the low-low cost of – in Edinburgh’s case – £400,000 for starters.

Each pouch brand works slightly differently, though it appears Edinburgh prefers Yondr, the type that has already been piloted at multiple high schools. 

How it works is simple: students arrive at school, slip their phones into the pouch, lock it, and are then free to keep them with them throughout the day. When they exit the phone-free zone, they can open their magnetic pouch at an unlocking station and be on their way.

The pouch prevents distractions during class by blocking incoming signals, and the policy will curb the epidemic of........

© Herald Scotland