National statutory restrictions on mobile phones in schools have been announced by the new boss of education in Wales. The move comes after the UK Government previously said it will introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools in England.
The Welsh Government announced on Tuesday that it will issue statutory guidance to schools on restricting the use of mobile phones in schools following a consultation which will begin in September. How far and wide those restrictions will be depend on the consultation findings.
Guidance for local authorities and schools "will strengthen and make clear the expectations for how phones are used within the school day", a spokesman for the Welsh Government said. The guidance will be evaluated over the new school year, starting in September, with the option "to further strengthen expectations if needed".
Head teachers have been warning for years of the effects of mobile phone use in schools with many in Wales already imposing whole or partial bans. Until now mobile phone policy has been left up to schools.
More than eight in 10 school staff have told a survey they are in favour of national restrictions rather than leaving it up to schools to make rules on phones. A workforce survey found "a large majority of staff wanted greater national direction on phone use in schools," the new Plaid Cymru government said. The previous administration shied away from legislating saying it was a decision best made individually by schools.
The latest survey showed while most schools have mobile phone policies there was no consistent approach and a large majority of respondents wanted greater national direction with 82% in favour of statutory restrictions.
Cabinet minister for education and Welsh language Anna Brychan said: “Our 100-day plan was clear we would act and I have listened to the calls for stronger clarity on this issue. This is why the government will publish statutory guidance to provide clear national expectations on how mobile phones are used in schools. I want to be clear: as cabinet minister I fully support – and strongly encourage – head teachers to introduce clear and robust restrictions on mobile phone use during the school day up to and including a full restriction across the school site. I am mindful some children will always need exceptions for medical reasons for example. By consulting on guidance at the start of the school year I am giving schools the clarity they want quickly and creating a safer learning environment by reducing distractions now.”
Some schools, including Cardiff West Community High and Ysgol Aberconwy, have restricted mobile phone use during the school day for years after concerns about their effect on learning and behaviour. Headteachers in Monmouthshire heads have gone further by asking parents not to buy their children smartphones at all.
Claire Armitstead, director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, gave a cautious welcome to the plans for statutory guidance rather than leaving it up to schools. She said: "We welcome plans for national guidance on mobile phone restrictions in schools. While schools already have policies in place this is clearly a topic which excites a great deal of debate and controversy and it would be helpful to have a common set of clear expectations which are shared between schools, parents, and pupils. We would like to see this land in a sensible place which allows school leaders flexibility about exactly how they implement restrictions so that they are able to take into account their context and the needs of their pupils and families. It is also important to remember that the vast majority of smartphone use happens outside school time and that more needs to be done to support families to manage the harmful impacts of this technology."
Laura Doel, national secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said: “School leaders are as concerned as everybody about the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people but there is already guidance from Welsh Government on this and the vast majority of Welsh schools have existing policies restricting their use in schools. However statutory guidance does back school leaders in implementing restrictions and removes ambiguity or differences between how schools approach smartphone policies.”
A spokesman for union NASUWT Cymru said its position was "to ban mobile phones in school", adding: "We would have to wait to see the detail of this before we could judge whether what is being announced goes far enough. We welcome the desire for consistency which is definitely lacking but requires a clear steer from the Welsh Government. We know that schools that have banned mobile phones have seen transformational improvements in engagement and behaviour. So our message to the Welsh Government is that we will support this."
Ms Brychan added the Welsh Government was also taking into consideration the UK Government social media ban for under-16s. "The UK Government has announced plans this week for new restrictions on under-16s’ access to social media," she said. "We are committed to protecting young people online and will carefully assess the implications of this announcement. We will work with school leaders and partners across the education system in Wales to ensure that their voices are heard and needs are reflected as new restrictions are taken forward."
