Mobile phones: guidance for Scotland's schools - updated 2026

Engaging with the whole school community

19. Evidence from PISA 2022 shows that the implementation and enforcement of any mobile phone in school policy plays a critical role in determining its effectiveness.

• Subject to any exceptions, there should be a clear expectation that the policy would be followed by all pupils.
• Staff should be relied upon to implement the policy approach consistently, including any aspects that apply to modelling of their own mobile phone use.

20. Effective implementation and enforcement rely on the support and cooperation of all members of a school community, including staff, pupils and parents and carers. To ensure this support and cooperation, it is imperative that schools seek to develop their policies in collaboration with their whole school community and engage with parent councils (where available), to understand their respective needs and concerns is essential. Co-creating policy expectations should ensure that all members of the school community understand the aims and purpose of the school’s approach and feel a shared ownership and commitment to its successful implementation.

21. Individual schools will be best placed to identify the most effective means of engaging with their own school community in light of their experiences of what works best. These should utilise a variety of communication methods and ensure that these foster two-way engagement, rather than simply information provision. The Scottish Government resource ‘Decision-making: children and young people’s participation’ has been designed to support public authorities and policy makers as they engage with children and young people.