Plans for a nationwide crackdown on mobile phones in classrooms have been announced by the education secretary, Màiri McAllan, who admitted that the Scottish National Party's current patchwork approach is 'letting pupils down'.
Criticism of Previous Policy
Ms McAllan criticised the 'variability' seen under her predecessor Jenny Gilruth, now the deputy First Minister. Ms Gilruth had insisted that head teachers were best placed to decide on local bans, telling MSPs in October: 'It's not for me sitting in an office in Edinburgh to dictate to Scotland's teachers.'
But Ms McAllan trashed that position, telling Holyrood: 'There is too much variability. One of the problems with the current situation, and why we need to move to change the law, is because some schools have adopted it, others haven't, and that variability across the country will be letting some pupils down, so we can't have that, and we have to correct it.'
She added later: 'I think that [variability] is probably the main thing that we could not tolerate as a parliament and as a society – the idea that some pupils in our schools would be learning free from the influence of smartphones, whilst others would not.'
National Ban Confirmed
The U-turn came as Ms McAllan confirmed a national ban instead of Scotland's 1,974 state primaries and 359 secondaries setting their own policy. When Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, introduced a partial ban on mobiles in 2024, pupils were not allowed to use them in classrooms or corridors. Any phone improperly used in class was locked in a teacher-controlled box for the rest of the lesson. However, students were permitted to use devices at breaks and lunchtime.
Harm Linked to Mobile Phones
Ms McAllan said mobile phones were linked to a 'spectrum of harm' from 'loss of concentration' and time-wasting to 'violent, misogynistic and radicalising content, incitement to self-harm, extreme bullying and in some cases, grooming'. There was also a 'higher risk of depression, anxiety, poor sleep and poor health in adolescence that arises from smartphone use'.
She said there would be a consultation before legislation, with pupil views 'front and centre in the decisions we take'. The Scottish Tories said parents, teachers and pupils would feel 'frustrated' at more delay.
Call for Phone-Free Learning
Ms McAllan said: 'We need to recognise the negative impact of mobile phones and screen time and protect our children and young people. That is why, now is the time for phone-free learning environments.'
'We have listened carefully to the calls from parents, carers and teachers to ensure greater consistency across the country to support children's learning and development.'
She said the consultation would help address 'complex issues', such as exemptions for pupils using phones to monitor medical conditions and young carers contacting home. In the meantime, new guidance will be issued this month 'to support and encourage more schools to introduce restrictions ahead of a law change'.
Political Reaction
Tory education spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: 'This damp squib of a statement is another shameful example of the SNP kicking the can down the road. Until mobile phones are completely banned in schools, they will continue to play a major role in creating an unsafe environment for pupils and staff. Yet instead of taking action, the SNP have reached for their favourite comfort blanket and will set up another pointless talking shop. What more evidence do they possibly need to get on with implementing a ban immediately?'
Asked by Labour MSP Katherine Sangster about timing, Ms McAllan said the consultation would open within 100 days, but gave no date on the change in the law.
