When choosing phone pouches for schools, it is important to balance security, durability, safety, compliance, and ease of use. The guide below highlights the essential features, standards, and supports that school leaders should consider before purchasing.
How Secure is the Phone Pouch?
What you need to know: A high-quality phone pouch must combine robust locking mechanisms with safety features. It is questionable whether locking systems that use exposed pins comply with the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, given the potential risk of puncture injuries to students’ fingers and hands. For this reason, the most suitable designs use a safe lock system that avoids sharp pins or protrusions altogether.
Why you need to know it: Security and safety must go hand in hand in a school environment. Strong, tamper-resistant locks ensure phones remain inaccessible throughout the school day, supporting the school’s mobile phone policy. At the same time, safe lock designs protect students and staff from accidental injuries, providing peace of mind that the solution is both effective and compliant with modern EU safety legislation.
Will the Pouch Last in a School Environment?
What you need to know: Look for pouches made from military-grade or abrasion-resistant materials that have been tested for durability. Features like reinforced stitching and strong fasteners also indicate longevity. For example, a standard neoprene pouch might cost around €15 and last approximately 2 years, while a pouch made from military-grade fabrics could cost €20 but last up to 4 years, offering better long-term value.
Why you need to know it: School settings involve daily use, rough handling, and constant movement. Durable pouches reduce the need for frequent replacements, offering better value and reliability over time. For instance, in a school of 500 students, neoprene pouches would require replacing after 2 years, meaning two purchasing cycles across a 4-year period. This results in a total cost of €15,000. By contrast, military-grade pouches costing €20 each would last the full 4 years, costing only €10,000 in total. This represents a saving of €5,000 over four years, while also reducing disruption, replacement administration, and ensuring higher safety and durability standards.
Does the Pouch Block Phone, WiFi and Bluetooth Signals?
What you need to know: Effective pouches should use signal-blocking materials that meet testing standards such as IEEE 299/2006 to ensure complete disconnection from mobile, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals. This is essential, as without full Bluetooth blocking, students may still connect their phones to smartwatches or Bluetooth earphones, undermining the purpose of the pouch.
Why you need to know it: Partial blocking leaves room for distractions and misuse. Full signal isolation supports a focused, tech-free classroom environment, ensures policy enforcement, and prevents circumvention through connected devices like smartwatches and wireless headphones.
Can The Students Unlock the Pouches Quickly at Going Home Time?
What you need to know: Pouches should come with a fast, secure unlocking system that teachers can easily manage—typically using handheld or wall-mounted devices. The system must allow large groups of students to unlock their pouches safely and without delay.
Why you need to know it: At the end of the day, efficiency is crucial. A smooth unlocking process avoids delays and ensures pupils regain access to their phones safely and promptly. For example, in a rural school where students rely on school buses, delays in unlocking pouches could cause disruption or missed transport. A reliable, rapid unlocking process ensures students can collect their phones and board buses on time. Similarly, in schools where students do not have access to laptops or tablets and rely on their phones for lessons, the school could consider installing wall-mounted unlocking devices in classrooms, allowing teachers to unlock pouches for specific lessons in a safe, controlled manner. This approach balances learning needs with security and policy enforcement.
How Can I Implement Phone Pouches Conveniently in My School?
What you need to know: Successful implementation is about more than simply purchasing pouches. Schools should choose suppliers who provide a comprehensive support package, including staff training, ready-to-use policy templates, and clear guidance on communication with students and parents. Some suppliers also go further by assisting with attitude surveys, helping schools to gather feedback from their community before and after implementation. This ensures that the process is transparent and that concerns are addressed early. Practical supports such as teacher guidance notes, classroom posters, and parental letters can also make a big difference in reducing workload for staff.
Why you need to know it: Introducing phone pouches represents a significant change to school routines, particularly at arrival, departure, and during break times. Without support, the adjustment may feel challenging for students, staff, and parents. Having access to structured resources helps schools to roll out the policy in a consistent way, avoiding confusion and ensuring that everyone understands both the rationale and the daily procedures. Training sessions can build staff confidence in managing the system, while template materials ensure clear communication with families. This joined-up approach makes it more likely that the transition will be smooth, widely accepted, and sustainable across the whole school community.
Is the Pouch Fire Resistant?
What you need to know:
Fire resistance is a vital safety requirement. Pouches should comply with DIN EN ISO 15025, proving they can self-extinguish and prevent flame spread if exposed to fire. Premium designs may use Cordura®, neoprene or reinforced PVC. Independent certification should confirm compliance with EU standards, including the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.
Fire resistance is a vital safety requirement. Pouches should comply with DIN EN ISO 15025, proving they can self-extinguish and prevent flame spread if exposed to fire. Premium designs may use Cordura®, neoprene or reinforced PVC. Independent certification should confirm compliance with EU standards, including the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.
Why you need to know it:
Lithium-ion phone batteries can overheat or ignite. While uncommon, such incidents have disrupted schools and raised safety concerns:
- In 2023, a UK school was forced to call the fire brigade after a student’s phone overheated and caught fire in class, underscoring the dangers of lithium-ion failures in education settings (Education Forum – The Rising Risk of Lithium-ion Battery Fires in Schools).
- UK fire data shows lithium-ion battery fires rose 46% between 2022 and 2023, with schools highlighted as high-risk environments for small electronics.
- The Dublin Fire Brigade has issued repeated public warnings about the dangers of lithium-ion battery fires in e-scooters and e-bikes, noting how quickly these fires spread and how difficult they are to extinguish (Dublin Fire Brigade – Official Warnings). While these warnings focus on transport devices, the same lithium-ion battery technology is used in mobile phones, making the risks directly relevant in school environments.
- Aircraft incidents also highlight the danger: a Qantas flight experienced a smoking phone after it was crushed in a seat mechanism; crew contained the incident (ABC News). A Virgin Australia flight had a mid-air locker fire believed to be caused by a lithium-ion power bank; crew used extinguishers and landed safely (The Guardian).
By choosing fire-resistant pouches, schools add a vital layer of protection against these risks, safeguarding students and staff while also meeting statutory health and safety obligations.
Does the Pouch Comply with Irish and EU Legislation/Requirements?
What you need to know: It is essential that phone pouches meet the strict regulatory requirements set out by the European Union. At a minimum, products should comply with the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, which ensures that all consumer products placed on the market are safe for their intended use, and the REACH Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, which restricts the use of hazardous substances such as heavy metals, phthalates, and harmful dyes in materials. Schools should also look for compliance with other relevant directives, including packaging waste regulations and fire safety standards, as these demonstrate that the supplier is taking a comprehensive approach to product safety and environmental responsibility. Independent certification or third-party testing reports should always be sought to confirm these claims.
Why you need to know it: Compliance is not just a legal requirement—it directly protects students, staff, and schools. By ensuring that pouches are manufactured under the latest EU safety regulations, schools can be confident that the products are non-toxic, environmentally responsible, and safe to use in daily classroom settings. Without compliance, schools risk introducing unsafe materials that could cause harm to students or create liability issues for the school. Regulatory compliance also ensures that products are fully permitted for use in Irish schools, avoiding problems with procurement audits or inspections. In addition, REACH compliance guarantees that the materials used are better for the environment, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and supporting broader school sustainability goals. Ultimately, by choosing pouches that meet these regulations, schools demonstrate their commitment to providing a safe, responsible, and future-proof solution for managing mobile phone use.
How could partnering with an Irish supplier improve customer support and alignment with Department of Education policies?
What you need to know: High-quality phone pouches should be produced in facilities that are ISO 9001-certified, with responsible suppliers commissioning independent audits and on-site quality checks to ensure standards are consistently met. An Irish supplier provides additional reassurance by acting as a local point of accountability, ensuring that products are fully compliant with EU regulations and meet the specific requirements set out by the Department of Education. This means schools can rely on both the safety and compliance of the product, as well as the oversight of a supplier who understands the local education context.
Why you need to know it: Working with an Irish supplier gives schools confidence that they are purchasing products from a traceable, quality-assured source. It also ensures that customer service is delivered by a team familiar with Irish procurement rules, Department of Education circulars, and the operational realities of Irish schools. This results in better support for school leaders, teachers, and parents during the roll-out of phone pouch policies. In addition, an Irish-based supplier can provide training, policy templates, and stakeholder engagement services, which are crucial for successful implementation. Partnering locally therefore combines the benefits of rigorous international safety compliance with the reassurance of policy alignment, local expertise, and strong customer support.
Where Can I Get Funding to Buy Phone Pouches?
What you need to know: Under Circular 0045/2025, the Department of Education has allocated €9 million in 2025 to support post-primary schools in purchasing mobile phone storage solutions, such as locking pouches. A short survey will be used to calculate and issue this funding, which will be distributed automatically once applications are processed. The terms and conditions are set out in Circular 0046/2025. Schools that apply by the end of June 2025 will receive funding over the summer months. Those applying between the end of June and the end of September will receive funds from October onwards. Applications received in October and November will be processed for payment in December. No applications will be accepted after November 2025. Application for Mobile Phone Storage Solution Funding
Who are Zeeko?
Zeeko, an Irish education company, has developed a patented Phone Blocking Pouch as part of its wider Phone Blocking System. Drawing on experience from delivering internet safety training to over 100,000 students, parents, and teachers in 873 schools across all 26 counties, Zeeko blends signal-blocking technology with education. Their approach supports schools in managing phone use while promoting responsible digital behaviour and online wellbeing, empowering school communities with the tools to navigate the digital world safely and confidently.