Moray Council to decide whether schools should have tougher phone rules
A verdict on plans to restrict mobile phone use in schools is due as parents and staff back the measures but pupils stand opposed.
Moray Council officers have recommended that councillors adopt the new policy, which would affect both primary and secondary schools, at a committee meeting.
Under the plans there would be “no mobile phones or devices present” in primary schools, and secondary pupils would be told to keep devices “switched off and out of sight” during the school day.
However, a number of exceptions for pupils are listed in the policy, including for those with a “medical need” or caring responsibilities.
Moray Council launched a consultation over the tougher rules, open to pupil, staff, parents and carers, in March.
The results showed overwhelming support among both parents and staff, with more than 80 per cent in favour of the changes.
However, 57 per cent of pupils did not back the changes.
Documents released ahead of the meeting, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, confirmed that the proposed rules are based on Scottish Government advice published last year.
While mobile phones are now an “integral” young people’s lives, the report argues, over-exposure can cause “limited concentration, unhappiness and isolation”.
It adds that phone misuse can lead to issues like bullying and harassment with “potentially devastating” consequences.
If approved, the new rules would take effect in August.
Under the new policy, the report indicated, schools would set their own rules on using devices within school grounds, at social events, using mobile devices for teaching purposes and rules around confiscating and returning phones.
“There are risks associated with children and young people bringing their own personal mobile phones into school,” it report added.
“The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) 2023 highlighted cases of misuse both in terms of low level disruption in classes and more serious misuse such as bullying and harassment of children and young people, and staff.
“Such behaviour is unacceptable in any context.”
