Campaigners have called on members of the public to "seriously consider" the impact of youth violence in a consultation about phone bans in Scottish schools. Children, young people, parents, carers, school staff and education authorities have been invited to share their views on what legislation could potentially be enforced.
The discussion has been opened to help the Scottish Government work out "finer details" of a ban. It comes amid the Daily Record's Our Kids ... Our Future campaign, which was launched in 2023 after a spate of violent attacks on young people in Scotland were filmed and uploaded online.
Campaigners welcome consultation
Vicky Donald, whose daughter Kaylynn was just 12 when she was filmed being assaulted on a school bus in Ladybank, Fife, four years ago, said the online sharing of the attack was every bit as traumatic as the violence itself. The 40-year-old told the Record: "I really welcome this consultation. I just hope that children, young people, parents and carers really consider how this will alleviate violence in schools."
"Without phones to focus on, kids relationships will become stronger and when you are more connected to your peers, you are far less likely to be violent against them. They will also be less likely to stand and watch violence without getting help."
She added: "The videos of Kaylynn's attack being spread was just as bad as the attack itself. Every time she would go on her phone, she was getting Snapchats of it. Within 30 minutes of her getting off the school bus, I had like eight different angles of video of it. I think this ban is a great start and kids will inevitably get around it."
Union highlights online bullying links
Teaching union NASUWT said a ban would prevent violence from being "set up" before being filmed and shared online. Mike Corbett, national official for Scotland, said: "The impact of youth violence must be considered in this consultation. Mobile phones are being misused by some pupils, sometimes to deliberately set up fights to film them and share them online."
"There are also serious links to online bullying. This ban would address these concerns and ultimately help to prevent violence in schools."
Education Secretary visits school with ban
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan visited Perth Grammar School yesterday afternoon to meet teachers who have already implemented a ban. The school uses boxes where pupils leave their phones at the beginning of a class and they are then returned at the end for use in break times.
McAllan said the consultation will be used to take into account any "exceptions" within a school phone ban. She said: "The consultation begins today and it is based on the Government's intention to legislate, to pass laws, to take a national position of ending personal mobile phones in the learning environment, and it builds upon guidance which is already in place, but it asks key questions like: should it be a whole campus ban, or should it be a classroom ban?"
"It talks about issues like where there's exceptions. I don't want there to be too many exceptions so as not to undermine the underlying principle. But I'm very clear that young people will sometimes need a mobile phone to manage a medical condition, or perhaps if they're young carers to contact home."
The public is encouraged to respond to the consultation until November 17, with analysis expected to be published in early 2027.
