School Excels by Ditching Phones Leading To Soaring Test Scores!

Quick Smiles:

• Students at Cumberland Community School excel by putting their phones aside.
• The initiative leads to test scores surpassing the national average.
• The school ranks among the top improving institutions in the UK.

A remarkable transformation is taking place at Cumberland Community School in East London’s Newham district.

Once struggling, the school is now basking in academic success, thanks to a bold initiative that encouraged students to delete social media apps and surrender their phones during exam periods.

In 2023, the school launched this initiative, convincing 160 out of 300 students to part ways with TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for two months.

Many students also agreed to hand in their phones while taking exams, eliminating distractions and temptations.

“The social media ban was a game changer for us because all of a sudden our students were 100% focused on revising for their exams,” said Principal Ekhlas Rahman.

“The [2023] cohort that stuck to it throughout the revision and exam period did significantly better than they were predicted.”

The results were outstanding, with the percentage of students achieving a GPA of 3.0 and above in their English and math exams soaring well above the national average.

The success story continued the following year, with 120 students participating in the program, prompting plans to replicate it in 2025.

Principal Rahman attributes this success to the dedication of both staff and students.

“Huge credit goes to our staff and students who have put so much effort into this sustained improvement.”

The school’s remarkable turnaround is a testament to the power of focus and perseverance.

“Five years ago this school was failing its students… Now we are among the top performing in the country, it means much greater opportunity for our students.”

As Cumberland Community School continues to thrive, it’s a celebration that even finds its way to social media, albeit with a touch of irony.

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