Winchester College restricts laptops to improve pupils’ focus in lessons and homework
Winchester College, a prestigious 644-year-old Hampshire boarding school, has stopped pupils using laptops for nearly all classwork and homework in a bid to improve learning. Headteacher Elizabeth Stone implemented the policy after noticing devices distracted pupils and caused "fragmented attention switching", with teachers observing students checking emails in the first ten minutes of lessons. The move challenges recent government education policy encouraging classroom technology, reflecting broader concerns among parents and educators about screen addiction's effects on children's development.
All homework for Years 9 and 10 must now be completed with pen and paper, whilst older pupils can use laptops only where evidence proves they would be "substantially" beneficial. Ms Stone, the school's first female head since 2023, reports the change has already boosted concentration and engagement, with fewer distractions from instant messaging, YouTube and social media. The policy contrasts with Labour's £23 million scheme to expand AI use in classrooms, though campaigners warn such initiatives prioritise cost savings over proven educational methods.
- Top private school bans laptops, returns to pen and paper for homework
- Policy aimed at reducing distraction and improving pupil concentration in lessons
- Move challenges government's push for more technology in classrooms
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Winchester College is a prestigious and historic boarding school in Hampshire. Its headteacher, Elizabeth Stone, has implemented a policy that sharply restricts pupils' use of laptops for schoolwork, requiring younger pupils to complete assignments with pen and paper.
The decision stems from concerns that devices distract students and fragment their attention during lessons. Teachers observed pupils checking emails and messages during class, prompting the school to limit screen use.
The policy reflects broader anxieties among parents and educators about how screen time affects children's development. It contrasts with the government's £23 million scheme to expand artificial intelligence in classrooms, illustrating differing perspectives on technology's role in education.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Restricting device use addresses well-documented cognitive harms of constant distraction and divided attention, particularly damaging during formative years when students develop habits and neural pathways for deep learning. The school's observed improvements in concentration and engagement, combined with evidence that handwriting enhances memory retention and critical thinking, suggest that removing digital temptation allows stronger learning capacities to develop.
The case against
Technology, when thoughtfully integrated, enhances learning through personalisation, accessibility for diverse learners, and development of essential digital literacy for modern careers and civic participation. A blanket restriction is unnecessarily rigid—the school itself permits use where substantially beneficial—and risks disadvantaging students whilst ignoring evidence that well-designed digital tools improve outcomes, especially for those requiring alternative formats or assistive technologies.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Revealed: The public school where the pen is mightier than the laptop…”.