Plans to Limit Phones in Schools

 by Archie B

On the 19th of February, the Government announced new advice for headteachers to limit pupils using phones at school in England.

More specifically, the advice sets out new powers that headteachers and teachers can use to reduce students phone use in schools. Several ways of doing this are suggested, such as banning phones from school premises; getting pupils to hand in phones on arrival and collect them at the end of the day- as all of you know, this is what happens in years 7 and 8 at PGS, but a surprising 95% of schools in England allow phones to be used in class, no matter what year you are in. 

But why has this advice been given?

The Government wants to improve education and behaviour by supporting schools to restrict pupils using phones. The advice follows a 2023 UNESCO report that said smartphones can disrupt learning and have a negative effect on children's wellbeing. UNESCO is part of the United Nations, and it promotes education across the world. 

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said pupils go to school to learn and create friendships. “You don't go to sit on your phone all day,” she added.

What has the response been?

Teacher groups say most schools already have rules in place for mobile phones. Geoff Barton, from the Association of school and college leaders, said the Government should instead focus on limiting young people's access to harmful content. Another concern of the impact of this proposal, comes from parents who are worried that their children won't be able to contact them, if these new plans do take place. There were further mixed responses from both parents and children, with one mother saying, “I can't imagine how hard it must be to teach children when they are constantly checking their phones,” whilst another parent stated that phones are an essential part of life, and how children should be taught how to use them responsibly, instead of teachers banning them completely. 

Adding onto this, it is said that around 97% of 12 year olds have a phone, which is mind-blowing, considering that these are people that have just entered senior school, and are not yet considered a teenager. This shows how modern day life is changing frequently, and many believe that the new laws would stop children from adapting to these changes that happen so regularly, because a large amount of things happen online. 

In my opinion, I agree that there should be a new law changing the usage of phones in schools; for instance I think that in breaks from class you should definitely be allowed to go on your phone, but in class, you should only be allowed to go on your phone if the teacher tells you to, or if your phone is necessary in the task you may be completing. Ultimately, it should preferably be at the discretion of the individual schools who know the pupils better than the Government, and are better placed to judge what works best for the pupils. One thing is for sure, our generation's use of phones is likely to cause much debate over the coming years.