MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Education: The impacts of social media on our children and young
people are a matter of significant concern to me and to this
government. Schools and parents have been raising their concerns
about the significant influence that technology and mobile phones
can have on the health, wellbeing, and learning experiences of
our children and young people.
Currently, decisions on mobile phone use during the school day
rest with individual schools and governing bodies. Headteachers
have the power to ban or restrict the use of devices, and I know
from the discussions I have had with headteachers from across
Wales that many of them have chosen to do so.
I continue to believe that schools are best placed to make these
decisions, based on how technology is used in their setting and
the needs of their learners. However, I also recognise that this
is an area where our schools are increasingly seeking national
direction.
Following the 2025 Behaviour Summit and drawing on the
recommendations of the Senedd Petitions Committee, I established
a dedicated practitioner and stakeholder Forum on mobile phone
use in schools. The Forum has recently completed a first draft of
new guidance to support schools to develop and introduce a mobile
phone policy that is appropriate for their school.
My aim has always been to strike the right balance in supporting
schools to minimise the impact of mobile phones on learning and
pupil wellbeing, while still maintaining local flexibility. To
ensure this guidance is robust, practical, and reflective of the
sector's needs, I have committed to a programme of engagement
with the sector in the period ahead of the election, with a full
public consultation on the final guidance after the election to
enable publication before the new school year.
Today, I am launching a national survey of the
education workforce to further explore existing mobile phone
policies, the rationale behind them, and their impact. I
encourage all schools to take part. The findings will
directly support us in refining the draft guidance and ensure
that future steps are evidence based and fully reflect what works
best for our learners and schools in Wales.
Alongside this, my officials will be discussing the draft
guidance with schools, the education workforce unions, local
authorities and most importantly with children and young people.
I look forward to hearing their views.
In the meantime, I want to place on record my support for any
school that seeks to introduce a policy restricting the use of
mobile phones, in the interests of protecting learners and
improving their engagement in lessons.
