Tag: mobile phones in schools

Views sought on phone restrictions in schools

Legislation to protect pupils’ education and wellbeing

Pupils, parents and teachers are among those being encouraged to share their views about restricting phones in schools with the launch of a public consultation today.

The Scottish Government’s consultation will inform the development of legislation to restrict phone use in schools, given concerns about the harmful effect on pupils’ education and wellbeing. Views are sought on the extent, scope and potential impact of any restrictions, as well as any possible exemptions.

Updated guidance, published in June, already encourages schools to restrict the use of phones during teaching and learning time as a minimum while the proposed mandatory legal restrictions are being developed.

The consultation has been published alongside practical guidance for parents to keep their children safe online and manage their screen time – with the advice being posted from today on Scottish Government social media channels.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Perth Grammar School, Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Smartphones are a fact of modern life, and it is important that we equip the next generation with the necessary skills, knowledge and resilience to thrive.

“However, the evidence of the risks that phones can pose to young people is compelling – from disruption to education, sleep and wellbeing, to more severe harms including bullying, harassment and radicalisation.

“The Scottish Government is treating this as a public health issue. We are publishing content from today about how parents can help keep their children safe online, alongside surveys to seek views on what more can be done to support families.

“We have already used guidance to encourage headteachers to restrict the use of phones, but we know teachers, parents, carers and pupils want a consistent approach across Scotland. That’s why national legislation is important.

“This consultation gives children, young people, parents and carers, school staff and education authorities the opportunity to share their views on what this legislation should look like.”

Consultation on restricting mobile phones in Scotland’s schools 

Mobile phones in schools consultation shows broad support for restrictions during the school day

A six-week consultation, which closed on 2 March, has seen high engagement, with almost 14,000 responses from parents/carers, pupils and school staff.

Results show overwhelming support for the introduction of restrictions in secondary schools citywide. 97% of responses from staff who work in secondary schools were in favour of school mobile phone restrictions. 57% would opt for the whole school day, while 40% would opt for part restrictions with mobile phones accessible to pupils at lunch and breaktimes.

Similarly, parents of current secondary school aged learners were supportive of mobile phone restrictions during the school day, with 94% in favour. 54% would choose restrictions for the entire school day, and 40% agreed that a part restriction including just class time would be best.

Out of all parents/carers who took part in the consultation, 73% said they would be supportive of restrictions for the whole school day, with 22% preferring access to mobile phones at lunch and breaktimes.

The response from current secondary school aged pupils presented a more mixed picture with just over half (53%) stating a preference for part restrictions with mobile phones allowed at lunch and breaktimes but not in class, and just 3% in favour of restrictions for the whole school day. 43% said that they should be trusted to follow the school rules, and 32% said they didn’t think that there should be any restrictions at all.

Pilots are underway at two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, using lockable magnetic pouches, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day.

The consultation, coupled with feedback from the two pilot schools, will provide information that will allow elected members to consider the details of restrictions and the extent to which lockable pouches could be used to support mobile phone restrictions.

Almost a third (31%) of parents/carers who currently have children at an Edinburgh secondary school were in favour or a lockable pouch system, with 29% preferring phones to be secured but stored in a cabinet.

Among staff who work in secondary schools, there was an equal split when asked about implementation of restrictions, with 36% preferring a secure lockable pouch system and 38% opting for phones to be stored away but accessible.

In September 2025, Councillors agreed to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools, with the preferred option the use of lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use across all secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.

The consultation forms part of citywide engagement work on implementing mobile phone restrictions in primary and secondary schools. An interim Integrated Impact Assessment has already taken place and will be finalised using consultation feedback.

Special consideration is being given for pupils with health needs or caring responsibilities who may need access to their mobile phone during the school day. Focus groups, including with young people is ongoing.

A report analysing these findings will be presented at Education, Children and Families Committee in June 2026.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor said: “I want to thank all those who have taken the time to engage with this valuable consultation. I am really pleased that such a high number of parents/carers, learners and school staff have shared their views on how potential mobile phone restrictions could work in practice.

“We are being bold in our ambition when it comes to making our classrooms phone-free, and we want to be one of the first local authorities to introduce widespread restrictions. It is important that we do this in the right way and a big part of this is making sure that we have heard and take on board feedback from our communities.

“This consultation forms part of our engagement and it is positive that the figures broadly show that we are on the right track.

“There is more work to be done to make sure that we have heard the views and concerns of our secondary school aged young people who are digital natives and understandably used to having their phone during the school day.

“We want to get this right so that any potential restrictions are seen as a positive step for all.”

Consultation opens on mobiles phones in Edinburgh’s schools

Pupils, families and school staff encouraged to share their views

A report discussed at Education, Children and Families Committee on Tuesday (20 January) provided an update on mobile phones in schools.

Following the decision made by Councillors in September 2025 to restrict the use of mobile phones in all primary schools, the report presented a range of next steps and options to support potential restrictions on mobile phones in secondary schools.

An interim Integrated Impact Assessment has taken place with consideration for pupils with medical or caring needs who may need access to a phone during the school day.

A citywide consultation is now live, and will run until 2 March, encouraging pupils, parents/carers and school staff to engage with the consultation and share their views:

Parents/carers: Mobile Phones in Schools – Parent/Carer survey – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space

Pupils: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/cf/7c310789/

School staff: Mobile Phones in Schools – Staff survey – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space

The report discussed at Education, Children and Families Committee outlined an initial evaluation of the two-year pilot underway at two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, using lockable pouches, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day.

Both schools report that, in the relatively short time pouches have been in use, feedback is largely positive.

Elected members were presented with a range of options for implementing restrictions, with the preferred option outlined being the use of lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use across all secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.

This would create a position of equity for families and schools but would require additional funding, factored into the Council’s budget setting process.

Next steps in the coming weeks and months include:

  • Conclusion of the Integrated Impact Assessment later this month
  • Focus group sessions carried out as part of the consultation process in January and February
  • Citywide consultation running until 2 March
  • Findings analysed and report presented to Education, Children and Families Committee later in the year

Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “In September 2025, it was agreed that restricting the use of mobile phones in our schools would be a positive step forward.

“We want these new measures to be brought in as soon as is practical, but it is the right thing to do to make sure that citywide consultation with families and communities, alongside an integrated impact assessment, takes place to explore and address any issues or concerns.

“Through many conversations, I understand that there is broad support for keeping smartphones out of the classroom, however there are individuals who have concerns which makes it even more important that as a Council we get this change right.

“Pilots, using lockable pouches, at Queensferry and Portobello High Schools have anecdotally been broadly successful, and as such the rollout of pouches in other settings needs to be explored. This includes options for financing mobile phone restrictions and the potential use of lockable pouches in secondary schools and lockable cabinets in primary schools.

“I am working closely with officers to move this forward as quickly as we can, while also making sure that we have done our due diligence to ensure that restricting mobile phones in our schools will have the intended positive impact.”