Publication - Advice and guidance
Mobile phones: guidance for Scotland's schools - updated 2026
Updated guidance on the use of mobile phones in Scotland's schools. Replaces guidance published in August 2024.
Consideration of exemptions
17. All school mobile phone policies should clearly state what exceptions will apply to the policy for individual circumstances.
18. In developing approaches to exemptions, education authorities and schools should consider the individual needs of their school community. Potential exemptions which should be considered on a case-by-case basis, include:
- pupils who are young carers and who require ongoing contact with family members;
- pupils who have medical conditions that require monitoring using mobile technology;
- pupils with additional support needs where access to their mobile phone is used as part of an agreed, planned approach to managing their learning needs;
- pupils with disabilities who use their mobile phone as part of a reasonable adjustment, including access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) etc.