GLF Schools

KS3 Blackout Pilot

Blackout logo

GLF Schools will be piloting new mobile phone technology across four secondary schools to support the wellbeing of students. This initiative, in collaboration with Blackout Technologies, will run after the February half-term and will involve all students in Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3).

Blackout phone

Why Are We Launching This Pilot? 

The rise in smartphone usage amongst young people has been linked to increased anxiety, reduced concentration, and disrupted sleep patterns, as highlighted in the book The Anxious Generation and recent documentaries. While we don’t believe there is a specific issue with phone usage at our schools, we aim to foster healthier habits for our students through this pilot.  

Schools across the country have adopted different solutions to this problem, including banning phones.

What is Blackout? 

Blackout is an innovative mobile app that helps students maintain a healthier relationship with their phones. It works by blocking access to distracting apps, including social media, games, and web browsers, during school hours. The app allows essential functions, such as calls, SMS, maps, and calendars, to remain accessible, ensuring students can stay connected with their families for necessary communication. Blackout is available to download from the App Store or Google Play.

During school hours, the app will disable cameras and recording features, and block social media, games, and encrypted messaging platforms, while maintaining access to calls, SMS, maps and calendars. 

Expected benefits for our pupils include more focus in the classroom, a calmer school environment with fewer phone-related disruptions, and improved wellbeing. 

We will assess the impact of the pilot through surveys and feedback from students, parents, and staff. Key metrics include improved focus, reduced disruptions, and enhanced well-being. As with any new technology, there will be learnings throughout the process. The findings will help determine whether this initiative will be expanded more widely. 

For more information please visit Blackout Solutions.

FAQs

Does the app know or ask to know the location of the user, why does the app’s privacy policy on the store mention location?

The app requires location permissions for other industries, but students using the app for school won't be asked for their location.

 

Blackout Education will never ask for or track your location. The app on the stores serves multiple industries, and only some of them require location tracking. Users invited to the Blackout app through organisations that require location tracking will be asked for their location. This is why location tracking must be included in the store listing privacy policy. Students invited to the app through schools will enter an authorisation code and will never be asked for their location.

 

 

Blackout & 3rd parties: Will use or communicate to them, information collected from the device. What relationships are in place already whereby you have agreed to pass this data on to 3rd parties

We have to mention our sub-processors (the services we use to provide our services). We do not sell any data. We consider ourselves a privacy-focused company and so this is an important pillar for us.

 

 

Can you provide a list of 3rd parties that will receive data?

These are limited to: Google Cloud Services & Amazon WebServices based in Dublin, and all app development is done in the UK.

 

Will my data be shared with third parties and used for marketing?

We only track and store what we need to provide the service and for the school to identify the child-device relationship. Therefore we don't need an address or phone number, for example. We don't sell or provide that data to other companies (beyond sub-processing). As we are a processor (as defined in GDPR), we don't access the information ourselves unless instructed by the school to provide training or support. All access is audited.

 

 

How can my child's data be removed from your systems and any third-party systems, if they delete the app and no longer use Blackout?

We have a data retention policy that is normal under GDPR and UK data laws. We can delete or provide data on request. Deletion is only possible if we do not require it to continue the provision of the service or a user is no longer active (for whatever reason). You can find our privacy policies on the footer of the Blackout-technologies.com website. For example, for the Google Play Store see https://www.blackout-technologies.com/privacy-policy-android

 

Is there any AI involved in the app? If so, what is it used for?

No.

 

Can you confirm that your app cannot access any data (e.g. emails, photos, cookies) from other apps outside the controlled zone?

Yes. Apps on a device not owned by the school or Blackout-Technologies do not have those access rights. This is by design of the Android and iOS operating systems.

 

Is any real-time location data shared with 3rd parties who could use it to identify a student and their location, and then sell that data to companies who could target the student with personalised ads?

No. Blackout Technologies does have a location-based solution that uses the same app but for different use cases. For schools, we have recommended using a schedule-only based approach. So the app store listings may suggest that location is required but school installations will never ask for those permissions, ensuring that we can't access the data. Therefore it can not be transmitted, stored, or passed to other parties.

 

How new is the app?

The app has only been on the app stores for a short period but has been provided as an 'enterprise distributed' solution for some time. They have also been through periodic penetration and security testing, as has our full solution. While one can never guarantee complete security on any software platform, we mitigate this by storing basic non-identifiable information on phones - only that needed to provide the service.

 

What is the Blackout App and how does it work? 

The Blackout App is a tool that regulates the use of smart devices during school hours. Messaging (iOS Messenger, Android SMS), settings, calendar, contacts and Apple Maps/Google Maps are still accessible. All apps downloaded from the App Store or Play Store are inaccessible including web browsers and camera functionality.  

 

Will Blackout work on all smartphones? 

Blackout will operate on devices that run Android 11+ and iOS 16+ 

 

What are the exact operational hours of the blackout app? 

This will be set by each school but will be for the duration of the school day. 

 

What data does the App collect? 

Blackout does not access personal or private information stored on your device, this includes app usage, browser history, behaviour, messages, or photos or your location. Its sole purpose is to block non-critical apps during school hours to create a focused learning environment.  

 

What if I just disable / remove the app? 

The school will be notified if the app is disabled and removed, and a follow-up conversation will take place to understand the reason for the removal.

Under agreed circumstances, the school may grant discretionary access to critical apps. Students who have a medical condition that require the use of apps on their phone will be exempt from this pilot.

 

Can my teachers see what's on my device? 

No, the app does not provide anyone in school with access to your personal data. It solely limits access to predefined apps and websites within defined school hours. 

 

What permissions does the app use & why? 

The app requests permissions necessary to enforce security policies, such as disabling the camera. These permissions are used solely for implementing the required restrictions and ensuring compliance. 

 

Why do students need to have it? 

Your school has chosen Blackout to help regulate smartphone usage, enhancing student well-being, productivity, and peer engagement. It addresses issues like social media addiction and cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, promoting responsible device usage. 

 

Can I refuse to have it on my smart device? 

Yes, but we would encourage a conversation and remind students, parents and carers, of the benefits this app will have in terms of reducing anxiety, improving concentration and general well-being.

 

What if I need to contact my child at school? 

SMS messages and phone calls remain functional while Blackout is active, for emergency communication, subject to school mobile phone rules. 

Pupils can also be contacted via the school office. 

 

How does Blackout work with parental controls?

Blackout complements parental controls, and when set up will prevent deletion of the Blackout app. We recommend setting up parental controls alongside Blackout for enhanced device management. The following guides are available: Apple  Google  Samsung

 

What if I need to use my device for emergencies during the school day?  

SMS messages and phone calls remain functional while Blackout is active, for emergency communication, subject to school mobile phone rules. 

 

What if I am absent from school, will my device work?  

During Term Time, Blackout will disable apps during school hours. If access is required when you are authorised as absent from school, then the app may need to be disabled. However, you may prefer to continue to take a break from social media and games sites as you would if you were in school. 

 

What happens during school holidays? 

Blackout is only operational during Term Time and school hours.