Commenting as the Education Secretary is expected to announce a
new government policy aimed at banning mobile phone usage in
schools at the Conservative Party Conference today, Paul
Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“Most schools already have clear policies around mobile phone use
and review them regularly. Schools have been dealing with the
issue of mobile phones for many years so it is very hard to see
what this latest government guidance will actually achieve.
“Schools have been crying out for guidance they actually do need
on complex issues such as how best to support transgender pupils,
instead they are offered this.
“We are also concerned that a blanket ban won’t work for all
schools – we query whether this new policy has actually been
sense checked at all with the profession.
“Unfortunately, a ban on mobile phones in school can cause more
problems than it solves, leading to pupils becoming more
secretive about their phone use, meaning problems are hidden from
staff and therefore more difficult to spot and address.
“Individual schools know their pupils and communities so are best
placed to develop their own policies when it comes to mobile
phones in schools, according to what works for them and for
pupils’ education and wellbeing.
“This announcement could present a big challenge for schools. We
are not sure how it would work in practice and how it could be
successfully implemented in a wide range of schools. Most young
people won’t just stop bringing their phones to school, and there
could be parental opposition too, as there are practical reasons
why pupils may need a mobile phone such as while travelling to
and from school.
“Schools help to prepare young people for the outside world, and
this includes equipping them with awareness and strategies to
responsibly monitor their own screen use and to focus on their
work despite the distractions of the modern world.”
