Many schools have banned mobile phones but Winchester College in England has gone a step further. In 2025, the school restricted the use of laptops for most tasks – teachers and students had to use pen and paper. The school said it brought in the change because many students were spending the first few minutes of class checking emails instead of listening to the teacher. Earlier this month, around 150 health experts warned that school screen time could be harming pupils’ health. However, many people say computers can make learning more interactive and help pupils develop skills they’ll need for work. Others say writing by hand helps you retain information better than typing. So, should pupils ditch devices and go back to pen and paper?
Yes – writing by hand helps concentration
Screens can be distracting. Students using phones or computers in class may be tempted to check messages or play games instead of listening to the teacher. The head of Winchester College, Elizabeth Stone, said students were already concentrating better and engaging more in lessons after laptop use was restricted. She said, “They weren’t chatting to each other and sending instant messages. They didn’t have access to YouTube. They weren’t watching football reels.” Switching to pen and paper might also make lessons more likely to “stick”. Studies have found that writing things down by hand can improve understanding and memory for some people because it helps them process information more slowly.
No – technology is a valuable part of life
Laptops can bring lessons to life through animations and games. This can make subjects easier to understand. Technology is also useful for supporting pupils with learning difficulties, including dyslexia, which mainly affects reading and writing. Speech-to-text software, audio readers, adjustable text and other tools let students with learning difficulties or vision impairments express themselves, keep up with classmates and feel more included. Digital skills are important for the future, too. Earlier this year, the Government announced a scheme to expand AI in schools. This shows that it is important to prepare children for a world where computers are everywhere in workplaces, universities and everyday life.
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