Restricting mobile phones in Scotland's schools

Background

It is important that we equip the next generation with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resilience to thrive in the modern age. Used responsibly, mobile phones can provide opportunities for learning and communication and may remove barriers to learning for some pupils. In addition, they can bring a sense of security to parents and carers as their children enjoy more independent activities, such as walking to and from school.

However, it is evident that mobile phones, when used inappropriately, are causing disruption to pupils’ learning and that of their peers. The Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR), published in 2023, showed that mobile phones can cause distraction and loss of concentration. The Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 data, published in December 2023, showed that almost a third of 15 year olds in Scotland and across all countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported being distracted using digital devices in most or every maths class – and around a quarter reported being distracted by others using digital devices.

BISSR 2023 also highlighted an increase in more serious behaviours. This includes abusive use of mobile phones in schools, for example, mobile phones being used to bully or harass pupils and staff. Such behaviour is unacceptable in any context. The misuse of mobile technology, including the filming of incidents which are posted on social media, is also frequently reported in the media. Many reports show the potentially devastating impact of such misuse on pupils, their families and the safety and wellbeing of staff.

There is also increasing evidence of the risk of these technologies on a spectrum of harms, including:

• Issues with sleep
• Loss of precious childhood time
• Loss of concentration
• Seeing harmful, often violent, misogynistic or radicalising content
• Bullying
• Incitement to self-harm
• Grooming