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The Guardian World1 min read
Calls for clarity over schools smartphone ban
TL;DR
Headteachers and campaigners are urging clarity on the government's proposed smartphone ban in schools. The amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill mandates schools to consider a mobile phone-free environment by default.
Key points
- Government proposes legal smartphone ban in schools
- Schools must consider mobile phone-free environments
- Debate in Commons scheduled for Wednesday
- Laura Trott questions effectiveness of current policies
- Headteacher supports complete removal of smartphones
Headteachers and campaigners have called for clarity on how best to implement the government's proposed legal ban on smartphones in schools.
In an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the government is proposing an existing law be altered so schools will have a legal duty to consider the guidance which says schools should be "mobile phone-free environments by default".
MPs are debating the issue in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott welcomed the statutory ban but pressed for clarity on whether a "not seen, not heard" policy is allowed "under these rules" saying "these policies don't work".
Rob McGinty, headteacher at Hollingworth Academy in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said his school has a "no see, no hear policy" but he would be in favour of completely removing smartphones from schools.
"I think some pupils will still continue to bring phones into school, so as far as a ban is concerned I think we need more details around what that looks like in order to support schools and teachers better," he said.
The school has started a consultation with pupils, staff and parents on the introduction of lockable pouches, which block the phone's signal so notifications are not transmitted to smart watches or wireless earbuds and headphones.
"No one's naive enough to think that mobile phones won't be going off in a blazer or trouser pocket, or even in school bags," McGinty said.
"They vibrate, they go off, then prompting a child to want to have a look and see what the alert is rather than focusing on the important thing - which is being in a lesson, focusing on what the teacher's saying and getting a really good education."
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently stuck in parliamentary "ping-pong", where legislation moves between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached on its final wording.
The government is now running out of time to get this key bit of legislation - which includes other measures such as a register of children not in school and a unique identifying number for children - over the line.
The Bill will then return to the House of Lords on Monday, with potentially limited time for a final Commons vote before the end of this parliamentary session.
Charlotte Ashton, from school phone-free campaign group Generation Focus, agreed that head teachers need more direction on how to implement the ban.
Ashton said 80% of schools with smartphone bans have a "no see, no hear" policy, which she says is "simply ineffective".
"It doesn't work to allow children to keep possession of their smartphones, because they are the world's most powerful distraction devices, and they are using them under the desks and in the toilets and in places where teachers can't have eyes on them.
"Until we move explicitly to a ruling out of 'no see, no hear' for smartphones, we won't get the change that we need to protect our children during the school day."
Q&A
What is the proposed smartphone ban in schools?
The proposed ban aims to make schools legally obligated to consider implementing a mobile phone-free environment.
Who is calling for clarity on the smartphone ban?
Headteachers and campaigners, including Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, are calling for clarity on the implementation of the ban.
What does the 'not seen, not heard' policy refer to?
'Not seen, not heard' is a policy that some schools use to manage smartphone use, but its effectiveness is being questioned under the new rules.
What are the potential consequences of the smartphone ban in schools?
The ban could lead to a complete removal of smartphones from schools, impacting how students engage with technology in their learning environment.
