The head of Ofsted has issued a stark warning that social media is "chipping away" at children's attention spans and fostering disrespectful behaviour, arguing that schools should provide a sanctuary away from mobile devices.
A Call for Classroom Sanctuaries
In his annual report, Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver stated that the pervasive influence of platforms like TikTok and Instagram "clearly plays a part" in driving disruptive conduct in classrooms. He linked this to a corrosion of the patience necessary for sustained learning.
Sir Martyn told reporters that while schools must help pupils navigate online risks, "there is no need to facilitate access on school grounds." He advocated for a stronger stance, suggesting it is "far better to provide children with sanctuary from their mobile devices once the school gates close."
He reiterated his support for banning phones in classrooms, though he emphasised the final decision should rest with headteachers, aligning with current Government policy.
An Endemic Crisis of Behaviour and Absence
The report highlights a deepening crisis in England's schools, with persistent disruptive behaviour cited as a key factor driving teachers out of the profession. Alarmingly, the suspension rate, while slightly down from a record high, remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
Perhaps more concerning is the endemic problem of pupil absence. The report flagged that 19% more children are now missing education entirely compared to the previous year. "How can that be right?" Sir Martyn questioned. "If that's not a scandal of attendance, I don't know what is."
Growing Momentum for a Legislative Ban
The chief inspector's comments feed into a heated national debate. When asked about an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s, Sir Martyn said, "I think it is just wrong for children to access social media." He criticised platforms for ignoring their own age limits.
This autumn has seen increased pressure for statutory action. Esther Ghey, mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, launched a campaign for a legal ban on phones in schools, stating it "would have really helped Brianna." She advocates for government-funded lockable pouches.
Separately, new analysis from the Centre for Social Justice suggests over 800,000 UK children under five are already using social media, a figure described by former education minister Lord Nash as "deeply alarming."
Despite non-statutory guidance from the former government, a recent Department for Education survey found fewer than one in ten secondary school leaders require students to hand in phones. The Government maintains headteachers already have the power to implement bans.
Pepe Di'iasio of the Association of School and College Leaders welcomed Ofsted's focus but stressed that schools need adequate funding and specialist support to tackle these deep-rooted issues, which have been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
