France Bans Mobile Phones in High Schools; UK School Uniform Swap Shop Thrives

French high schools are rapidly implementing a new ban on mobile phone use, a policy championed by President Emmanuel Macron as part of his initiative to reduce screen time for young people. While the ban is being fast-tracked, education unions have expressed concerns about the practicalities of enforcing it in lycées, which serve students aged 15 to 18. Macron also aims to extend this digital detox by proposing a ban on social media for children under 15, seeking to establish this as a significant legacy of his presidency.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, a school uniform swap shop initiative has gained significant traction, expanding from a single school four years ago to over 200 participating institutions. This program not only helps families save money by facilitating the exchange of pre-owned uniforms but also works to combat the stigma often associated with second-hand clothing. Separately, the Duolingo English Test will no longer be available to individuals in Iran starting September 1st, impacting access to a widely used language proficiency assessment.