New Scottish government guidance on the use of mobiles in school concludes that a national ban is not “appropriate or feasible” - but says schools and councils can “introduce restrictions and limitations” if they wish.
The long-awaited guidance - published today along with a national behaviour plan - says that “mobile phones can both enhance and detract from learning, depending on their use”.
Guidance on phones in schools
It acknowledges the “potentially devastating impact” of mobile phones when they are used to bully or harass, as well as the “disruption to pupils’ learning” that mobile phones can cause.
However, the guidance also says that mobiles “can be powerful tools to enhance learning and teaching” and can “remove barriers to learning for some pupils”.
Phones are also now used to “access some school-based services, such as ordering school meals”, the guidance notes.
The guidance concludes that “it is not considered to be appropriate or feasible to introduce a ban nationally on mobile phones in schools”.
It adds: “Schools and education authorities may introduce restrictions and limitations on the use of mobile phones in schools, through a policy approach. The purpose of this guidance is to assist schools and education authorities in introducing or updating any such measures relating to mobile phones in ways that work best for them, in light of their local context.”
The guidance recommends:
- Policies on respectful and responsible use of mobile phones should be built with the whole-school community - pupils, staff, parents and carers.
- Policies setting out clear expectations of standards of behaviour from all members of the school community, including pupils, staff and parents and carers, as well as what action will be taken when such expectations are not met.
- Clear communication of policies with pupils, parents and carers and staff, so that all members of the school community are aware of expectations of behaviour and can apply this consistently.
- Clear procedures for the removal and return of mobile devices after inappropriate use, as well as clear protocols on reporting of misuse within the school.
- Clear guidelines on privacy policies and on the uploading of images or recordings obtained by use of mobile phones to social networking or other websites without the express permission of data subjects.
Advice on phone restrictions
Where restrictions are being considered, the guidance recommends:
- Clear practices for restriction, safe storage and return of mobile phones (current practice includes: the storage of phones by pupils within their own bags during the school day; and phones being dropped off at a particular point or classroom, stored and returned at the end of the school day).
- Arrangements established for emergency contact with pupils and families.
- Consideration of possible exceptions for certain pupils; for example, young carers who require ongoing contact with family members or those who have medical conditions that must be monitored using digital technology.
Andrea Bradley, the EIS teaching union’s general secretary, said: “The reality is that the use of personal mobile devices has increased due to the paucity of digital devices and lack of investment in the IT infrastructure of schools.
“Implementation of the national guidance should therefore be accompanied by investment of necessary resources, to ensure that pupils who may not have access to smartphones or data are not disadvantaged.”
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