Mobile phones set to be banned in all East Renfrewshire primary schools

Mobile phones are set to be banned in all East Renfrewshire primary schools, with restricted use for pupils at secondary schools.

Councillors have agreed to introduce a “mandatory baseline policy” on mobile phone use for all schools in the local authority area.

A working group will be set up to develop the policy, which will include a complete ban in primary settings and conditional use, such as educational reasons, in secondary schools.

It is expected to be rolled out at the start of the new academic year and be reviewed over 2026/27 and 2027/28 to “inform future practice”.

The decision comes after a consultation on mobile phone use in schools found the most popular policy among parents/carers (57.3%) and staff (44.3%) was a complete ban during the school day.

However, pupils favoured conditional use of phones, with 36.8% supporting use with teacher permission and 22.2% backing use during breaks only.

Over 6,400 people, including over 2,000 students, more than 500 school staff and nearly 3,900 parents or carers, responded to the consultation, which ran between late August and early October.

Figures showed a majority of staff (73.4%) and parents/carers (75.2%) believe the risks of allowing mobile phones in schools outweigh the benefits.

It dropped to 66% of secondary staff and 63% of secondary parents/carers. Pupils were more divided, with 41.4% feeling the benefits outweigh the risks and 38.3% unsure.

Just over 72% of parents/carers and 51% of staff did not support the use of phones in class for learning. However, 45.2% of pupils were in favour, with 23.8% not sure.

The council’s policy is set to state that all phones must be stored safely during lessons. Headteachers would retain the authority to extend restrictions beyond lesson time, such as during breaks and lunch, or to implement a full-day ban.

There would be exemptions for specific circumstances, like learning with teacher permission and medical reasons.

A council report stated: “From the feedback gathered, it is evident that children and young people, perhaps unsurprisingly, have some views which are the opposite to those of parents/carers and staff.

“All groups recognise both benefits and drawbacks, but adults are more likely to prioritise risks and support restrictions. Pupils are more likely to value autonomy and communication benefits, whilst adults focus on safeguarding and equity.

“However, there is universal support for a clear, enforceable, and equitable policy.”

Officials said the preferred option “addresses the issues of safety, disruption and well-being while respecting national guidance, pupil views and the professional judgment of headteachers”.

Gerry O’Neil, headteacher at St Ninian’s High School, told the council’s education committee that staff at his school had been asked to record interactions relating to mobile phone use over one week.

He said mobile phone misuse occurred in 4% of lessons, with “far more examples of mobile phones being used positively”.

The school does not allow phones to be used in class “unless directed by the teacher”. Mr O’Neil added: “Whether we like it or not, digital learning, mobile phones, and artificial intelligence are very much here to stay.

“I think we need to be at the forefront of making sure we train our young people to use those technologies effectively, respectively, try to protect them from harm, and teach them the dangers.”

Council leader Owen O’Donnell, Labour, said the consultation hadn’t been requested due to educational outcomes as they are “excellent” in East Renfrewshire.

“It really was about disruption and concerns about the mental well-being of our young people,” he said. “Going into this, I thought we would be recommending a blanket ban in both primary and secondary, but obviously, any policy we come up with will not satisfy everyone.”

“You can see by the results that there are lots of mixed views on this.”

He welcomed the review phase as “it is something that we do need to keep a watching brief on”.

Mr O’Neil also said: “The thing that actually probably takes up most of our time, certainly as a senior management, is dealing with instances of mobile phone use outwith schooltime. The dangers of social media, the harms that it can cause.”

The consultation process found 41% of parents/carers shared they had concerns about their child’s mobile phone use at home.

These included peer pressure and social exclusion, health issues, like addiction and overuse, sleep disruption, inactivity or mental health problems, and cyberbullying or the viewing of extreme content.