Northumberland County councillors are set to examine the impact of smartphones on school students, following a comparison by one councillor between smartphone use and drug or alcohol consumption. Councillor Suzanne Fairless Aitken, who represents Hexham East, has been a vocal advocate for tighter restrictions on mobile devices in educational settings.
Government Mandate and Local Action
The push comes after the UK Government announced a mandatory ban on smartphones in schools from September, ahead of a broader prohibition on social media for young people scheduled for 2027. While many schools already have policies limiting smartphone use during class, councillors aim to identify and promote best practices to enhance concentration and behaviour among students.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Fairless Aitken described the impact of phones on young people as "unprecedented." She stated: "This is something that even kids I have spoken to in local schools who are on the front line say they wouldn't give smartphones to their children. I'm not a fan of banning but we need restrictions on phones for certain times in your life."
Drugs and Dopamine Comparisons
Fairless Aitken drew a direct parallel between smartphones and controlled substances, arguing: "It is reasonable to say they shouldn't be in schools. We don't allow drugs or alcohol in schools and smartphones are a form of drugs with the dopamine hits." She emphasised that the devices are affecting concentration and behaviour in ways never seen before, citing trials in southern England that showed "incredible results in a matter of weeks." She added: "It is amazing how much better their focus is. Children can do what they like at other times, but in school it is important for them to focus on their learning."
Task and Finish Group Established
At a meeting of the county council's family and children's services scrutiny committee on Thursday, members agreed to establish a task and finish group to investigate the issue and share best practice. The group will include elected members, council officers, and school leaders. Executive director of education Audrey Kingham noted that some schools were "well-versed" in managing mobile phone use and had years of "good practice." The exact scope of the group's work has yet to be finalised.
The Department for Education expects schools to implement policies ensuring pupils do not have access to their mobile phones throughout the school day, including lessons, breaks, and lunchtimes. The Government also advocates teaching students the benefits of a phone-free environment, framing it as "desirable and valuable."
Parental Involvement Key
Councillor Fairless Aitken stressed the importance of parental support, saying: "I'm really pleased that we're setting up this group to work with schools. We need to get parents onside, otherwise it will fail - but the tide is turning, parents realise we need to do something."
