New guidance will empower headteachers to ban mobile phones at school

Scottish headteachers will be given Scottish government backing to introduce mobile phone bans in schools.

Many have already implemented their own policies but the government will issue its first official guidance on the issue on Thursday morning.

It comes just weeks after a study found that many parents regret giving their young children smartphones and have concerns about the impact it can have on their mental health.

Furthermore, the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) education committee found in its annual survey that members held a number of concerns regarding mobile phones in the classroom.

Anne Keenan, assistant secretary at the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS), said the misuse of phones in schools is a “significant issue”.

She told STV News: “It’s being used in some instances to bully pupils and staff and that can have an impact – not only on teaching and learning – but also on the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

“Many schools across the country already have their own guidance in place and the EIS would expect, in the context of an empowered school, the approach that would be taken would be that schools, parents, teachers and pupils would all be involved in the development of policy – to agree what the appropriate use of mobile phones should be for their particular areas.

“What we are hoping for is that national guidance will support this local policy and ensure there are common principles that will underpin the approach they are undertaking and to support schools in implementing guidance.”

In February, the UK Government issued guidance allowing headteachers to ban mobile phone use throughout the school day, including at breaktimes, in England.

In Scotland, the Glasgow Gaelic school has implemented a rule – supported by pupils – that means phones are not to be used during and between classes.

And Gordonstoun, one of the independent schools in Moray, restricted phone use back in 2017 to evenings only.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh City Council delayed a decision earlier this year on its approach to banning mobile phones in schools until the new Scottish Government guidance is published.

Several local schools had already introduced policies banning or restricting phone use, but Conservatives in the City Chambers argued without “strong council policy” many teachers would struggle to enforce rules.

A joint amendment agreed by the Labour administration, SNP, Greens and Lib Dems said the issue should go before the education committee once the guidance was published.

The SSTA survey, which took place in February 2024, found some 71% of secondary school teachers said mobile phones are having a poor impact on pupil behaviour.

Meanwhile, 90% of respondents reported pupils having detachment problems, with the same percentage stating they were concerned that pupils had been texting during lessons.

While 80% reported pupils taking photos on their phones during class, and 60% said they were worried about social media bullying, with phones in the classroom being a factor.

Respondents also said pupils had answered calls during lessons, viewed inappropriate content, and had broadcasted live recordings of lessons online.

In total, almost all of the respondents told the survey their classes had been interrupted due to mobile phones.