Grantown Grammar School head says mobile phone ban has slashed cyber-bullying
The headteacher of Grantown Grammar School has said that cyber bullying has massively reduced since a ban brought in on mobile phones a year ago.
Her comments come as Highland councillors prepare to debate a ban on pupils using phones at schools at their headquarters in Inverness.
A motion is going before full council tomorrow (Thursday) and points out that ‘excessive use of mobile phones is a significant issue’.
Grantown Grammar School head teacher Claire McGonigal said it has been one of the policies she has introduced which has had the most positive impact.
The school has been well ahead of the curve, and was one of the first in Scotland to introduce the ban on mobile phones.
She said pupils are still very much on board with the policy and the school community continues to see the benefits.
Ms McGonigal said: “Cyber bullying in school has massively decreased and pupils in general are more inclusive and chatty with each other.
“One reported unexpected outcome is that any name calling or negative comments, which no matter how positive a school ethos, are always there where there are teenagers, are now much more public because they are said rather than sent.
“This means that they can be challenged by peers and brought to staff attention much more readily.
“The school can then respond with a combination of consequence and teaching much faster.
“Rather than insults being hidden and heard only by the victim, it’s reassuring and encouraging to see fellow pupils name the caller and tell them to stop.
“This is reflected in pupil feedback and focus groups where they report incidents can be dealt with before they become serious issues impacting mental health and everyone moves on quickly.
“Pupils have also been keen to try new activities at break and lunchtime and we now have old pianos dotted around the school and grounds which pupils play and are looking at setting up a frisbee golf course around the sports pitches.
“The mobile phone ban has taken us is some quite unexpected directions and revealed some unknown talents in both pupils and staff!
“We’re in no way complacent, however, and will continue to monitor the impact of the mobile phone ban.
“But I can honestly say it has been one of the most impactful strategies in terms of pupil engagement, achievement and health and wellbeing which I have enacted at Grantown.”
The motion by councillors Michael Gregson and Helen Crawford states: “The excessive use of mobile phones is a significant issue, and some studies suggest it can have the characteristics of addiction.
“This is particularly significant for children and young people in an educational context. We have a responsibility to reduce distraction and the potential for bullying and invasion of privacy.
“We believe a strong council policy can support schools in introducing and implementing appropriate measures.
“This council instructs schools to consult on how best to ensure pupils’ use of phone screen time does not adversely affect their learning.
“Chromebooks remove the need for phones as educational tools. Consulting the whole school community – school managers, parents, teachers and pupils – will ensure the development of policy at local level, in order to agree what the appropriate use of mobile phones should be for their particular areas.
“The council further commits to give fulsome support to schools seeking to implement a ban on pupil use of phones during the school day.”
