Schools urged to act on mobile phone use ahead of law change

The Scottish government has urged schools to act before it introduces new legislation to restrict phone use in classrooms.

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said the government would soon launch a consultation on phone-free classrooms.

Schools have been encouraged to bring in their own restrictions for the next academic term ahead of the law change.

McAllan told Holyrood there will also be new national guidance published by the end of the month to support schools in tackling the "spectrum of harm" linked to mobile phone use.

She said there was a "higher risk of depression, anxiety, poor sleep and poor health in adolescence that arises from smartphone use".

She told MSPs: "A public health approach means being clear about the harms and taking a holistic approach to addressing these."

McAllan said ministers would also push for the UK government to ban social media for under-16s.

Under the new guidance, schools are expected to be given flexibility to ban phones either just in classrooms or throughout the entire school day.

But there will be exemptions for pupils who require a phone - if they are a carer, have medical conditions or have additional support needs.

McAllan said: "We will shortly publish a consultation on laws to make our learning environments phone-free, meeting our commitment to do so in the first 100 days of this government.

"Legislation is the way for us to mandate phone-free learning, but if headteachers want to take action themselves they do not have to wait, and nor should they.

"While we prepare legislation, we are working with education authorities to refresh the current guidance by the end of June, to support schools to consider their approach from the next term."

In April, the UK government said it would introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools in England.

The Scottish government previously introduced guidance allowing headteachers to introduce phone bans in schools in 2024.

It came after a 2022 study which showed about a third of pupils in Scottish classrooms admitted they had been distracted by the devices.

At King's Park Secondary School in Glasgow, mobile phones are already banned in classrooms and corridors.

However pupils are allowed to use them during intervals and lunchtime.

They told BBC Scotland News that the classroom ban had a positive impact, as phones had been disruptive and would distract their classmates during lessons.

But they believe phones are important to have in school and would not welcome an outright ban.

"A full ban of mobile phones in schools would be crazy," said sixth-year pupil Zak.

"Phones are definitely a distraction but for student safety, we need them.

"It is fair to ban them in class but outside of class, phones are a necessity and it would be unfair to have our phones taken off of us."

Sixteen-year-old Eve said she had never had to use her phone in class.

But she thinks it is important to be allowed it during breaks and at lunchtime.

"Sometimes you need to contact home or home needs to contact you but also to find your friends or if you're going out at lunchtime," she said.

"But in class it does cause distractions because you are on your phone and not working.

"Banning phones in classrooms creates an environment where everyone is involved so I think it is fair."

Eve added that she had seen bullying on social media and said it was common for people to film fights, so she believes phones can also be harmful in schools.

The Scottish government says it also plans to develop a public health campaign for young people and parents on how to stay safe on the internet.

Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher said: "This damp squib of a statement is another shameful example of the SNP kicking the can down the road.

"Until mobile phones are completely banned in schools, they will continue to play a major role in creating an unsafe environment for pupils and staff."