Government Releases New Mobile Phone Guidelines for Schools, Despite Data Showing Widespread Existing Restrictions
In response to growing concerns over classroom distractions, the UK government has recently issued new guidelines aimed at regulating mobile phone use in schools.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan told BBC Breakfast that the guidance offered "consistency to reset the social norm that there is no place for mobile phones in our schools all the way through the school day".
Although the guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory, they are designed to encourage a unified approach to mobile phone regulation across all educational institutions. When asked if the government would bring in mandatory legislation, Ms Keegan said: "We would consider what more needed to be done if it [the guidance] did not work".
Notably, most schools already enforce policies to limit or prohibit mobile phone use.
Despite the government's initiative, the ASCL's General Secretary Geoff Barton has voiced scepticism, suggesting the focus should shift towards regulating online platforms that expose students to harmful content rather than on mobile phones in schools, which he views as a "non-policy for a non-problem."
The Department for Education (DfE) has outlined several recommended practices for mobile phone policies, emphasising the need for schools to tailor these policies to their unique circumstances.
Among the suggestions are complete bans on mobile phones on school premises, requiring phones to be handed in at the start of the day, and ensuring phones are stored securely or remain unseen and unheard. These guidelines also address concerns about student safety during commutes to and from school, advocating for parental involvement in policy formation.
Moreover, the guidance advises on the appropriate use of mobile phones by sixth-form students and staff, aiming to maintain a consistent policy across school populations. Schools are authorised to employ various disciplinary measures for policy violations, including phone confiscation, supported by existing legal protections for schools against liability for confiscated items.
Amidst these developments, insights from Teacher Tapp reveal a significant prevalence of restrictive mobile phone policies in UK schools, indicating a widespread effort to curb phone usage during school hours.
According to the data, 62% of secondary schools have implemented policies that essentially render student phones invisible throughout the school day, with less than 1% allowing unrestricted phone use.
Interestingly, primary schools are gradually adopting more flexible approaches, balancing the desire for student safety with the need for in-school restrictions.
Secondary schools, on the other hand, are increasingly adopting stricter policies, with a notable rise in the percentage of schools that either ban phone use entirely during the school day or collect phones at the beginning of the day. This shift suggests a growing recognition of the need for effective policy enforcement to mitigate the challenges of mobile phone use in educational settings.
Reflecting on the broader implications of mobile phone policies in schools, Geoff Barton reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of digital distraction, stating, "The government would be far better off putting its energies into bringing to heel the online platforms via which children are able to access disturbing and extreme content.”
