Scottish schools could ban mobile phones under new guidance

While some schools already have their own mobile phone policies in place, this is the first official guidance from the Scottish government.

It says there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that “over-exposure” to mobile phone use can result in pupils experiencing limited concentration, unhappiness and isolation.

The guidance refers to a recent international study, external which showed about a third of pupils in Scottish classrooms admitted being distracted by phones in almost or every lesson.

While schools will have the power to create their own policies on mobile phone use, some may choose not to enforce an outright ban.

Pupils could be instructed to switch phones off and keep them in a bag during class times, for example.

The guidance also says that pupils could be told not to film classmates or staff unless they have their consent and special permission of school management.

There should also be clear procedures for removing and returning phones to pupils if they misuse them, as well as clear reporting protocols for misuse and support for anyone who is being harassed by phone.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liam Kerr said the plan was “extremely belated” and that any ban would need to ensure that education did not suffer.

He said: “What Jenny Gilruth’s statement does not address is the difficulty they will have in doing so [banning phones], thanks to the SNP’s broken promise that they would provide a laptop or tablet to every school pupil in Scotland – a problem highlighted to the education secretary at a recent meeting with teachers.”