Highland school mobile phone ban to be debated at the council amid call for policy on the issue after a consultation with pupils, parents, teachers and staff
A potential ban on mobile phones in schools is to be debated by Highland Council this week amid a call for a policy on the thorny issue.
Michael Gregson and Helen Crawford submitted a motion on mobile phones in schools by seeking the development of a full Highland policy.
Currently, it is understood that Nairn Academy and Grantown Grammar have restrictions on mobiles while Moray Council just backed restrictions as well.
What the councillors are seeking is agreement on a full consultation run by schools that involves pupils, parents, teachers and staff.
They say that 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.
Cllrs Gregson and Crawford added: “The council further commits to give fulsome support to schools seeking to implement a ban on pupil use of phones during the school day”.
The thorny issue of mobile phone usage in schools across the UK continues to pose questions for bodies like Highland Council.
That is partly because neither Keir Starmer’s nor John Swinney’s governments have taken a final line on the issue and have devolved decision-making to schools.
That has left some head teachers in the firing line of those who do not want to see a ban in place while teachers have spoken for years about problems with mobile use.
Additionally the two councillors argue that “excessive use of mobile phones is a significant issue, and some studies suggest it can have the characteristics of addiction”.
With each motion there is now an official assessment, usually referring to costs and to legal or policy issues.
In this case they say that the “consultation across the whole school estate” would require funding that has not been budgeted for but that the assessed impact on equality and children’s rights is positive.
