A ban on pupils using smartphones during the school day has been demanded by peers in a defeat for the government in the House of Lords.
The Conservative-led move, backed in the Lords by 178 votes to 140, comes after the upper chamber recently supported barring under-16s from social media.
The peers’ proposed change to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will now be considered by MPs, with the legislation to be batted back and forth between the Commons and Lords until agreement is reached.
The proposed prohibition of the use and possession of smartphones by pupils would cover all schools in England if it becomes law.
The provision would allow for some exemptions, including for sixth-form students, boarding schools outside of teaching hours and medical devices.
However, peers voted down a proposal to allow pupils with special educational needs or disabilities to use smartphones as assistive technology where it is necessary for learning.
Phones ‘the gateway drug to social media’
Supporters of a statutory ban on phones in schools argued that non-statutory government guidance did not go far enough, despite this being strengthened recently.
Under this updated guidance, Ofsted will now check schools’ mobile phone policies in every inspection, with schools expected to be “phone-free by default”.
Schools also risk missing the “expected standard” for Ofsted’s behaviour and attendance evaluation area if they do not follow the phone guidance and inspectors find evidence linking this to behavioural issues or negative impacts on pupils’ attitude to learning or wellbeing.
Pressing for the law change, Conservative shadow education minister Baroness Barran said: “We need to reset our own and our children’s relationship with smartphones and social media, as smartphones are so often the gateway drug to social media.
“Headteachers want a ban on smartphones. This [proposed law change] sends a clear message about the harms that smartphones can cause. It sends a clear message to parents, and it will, crucially, result in consistency across our schools.
“The flexibility inherent in the new guidance from the government is portrayed positively as giving schools and communities discretion to adopt an approach that suits them best, but the reality for many school heads is that it is the exercise of that discretion that’s difficult, and it leaves schools facing off against pupils and parents.”
Conservative former health minister Lord Bethell said: “The toxic digital platforms are designed for adults and they are engineered for addiction, fraudsters, predators, and I’m afraid they are screwing too many of our children’s brains.”
‘National reset’ on phones
In response, education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern said: “The government recognises concerns about the impact of mobile phones in schools, including the distraction from learning and the wider effects on children’s wellbeing. For this reason, we already have always been clear that mobile phones have no place in schools.”
Research shows that “the overwhelming majority of schools already have policies in place that limit or restrict the use of mobile phones during the school day”, she added.
Strengthened government guidance made it “absolutely clear” that all schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default, including during breaktimes, Lady Smith told peers, adding that Ofsted inspections would also check a school’s mobile phone policy.
“This is a national reset on mobile phones in schools, and we expect all school leaders, pupils and parents to follow this guidance,” she said.
“But this is not the end of the conversation, and we will continue to listen to the voices of parents, teachers and children on this issue.”
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