There Cumberland Community School in Newhamin London, achieved extraordinary results thanks to an innovative initiative that involved students in give up social media and cell phones during exam periods.
This high school, located in East London, is now ranked among the fastest improving institutions in the United Kingdom. In 2023, teachers convinced 160 out of 300 students to delete social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram for two months.
Furthermore, many of these students agreed to hand over their cell phones while they were at school to avoid distractions during exams. This initiative has led to significant increases in students’ test scores and GPAs, with students performing well above the national average on English and math exams.
The initiative will be repeated this year too
Principal Ekhlas Rahman stressed that the social media ban was a turning point for the schoolallowing students to fully concentrate on revising for exams. The 2023 cohort that followed the initiative performed significantly better than expected, and the results were similar the following year, when 120 students participated.
Five years ago Cumberland Community School was in steep decline, but now it is among the best in the country, offering far greater opportunities for students. This success has been attributed to the commitment of staff and students to sustained improvement. Rahman praised staff and students for their commitment and dedication in achieving these outstanding results.
The initiative demonstrated that by eliminating the distractions of social media and cell phones, students can concentrate better on studying and achieve superior academic results. This innovative approach could serve as a model for other schools seeking to improve student outcomes and create a more effective learning environment. And by 2025, Cumberland Community School aims to replicate the project again.
