Mobile phone use could be restricted in East Renfrewshire schools under new guidance

Mobile phone use in East Renfrewshire schools could be restricted, with guidance for pupils and teachers set to be updated following a consultation.

Parents, carers and staff have raised concerns about the use of smartphones in schools, which can “facilitate bullying”, councillors have said.

There are plans to hand out questionnaires from August, which will help to refresh guidance on how phones can be used while at school.

Cllr Katie Pragnell, Labour, said she has been “contacted by a number of parents, carers and staff who work within East Renfrewshire schools” and there are “some concerns about the use of mobile phones”.

She added: “I think it’s really important that we consider this issue fully as there is evidence emerging, particularly on the impact mobile phones have on young people’s mental health, especially as they are going through a quite vulnerable stage of puberty and adolescence.”

Cllr Kate Campbell, Conservative, added: “I am very aware from what I’ve heard from parents and pupils, it’s not just receiving and sending texts, smartphones facilitate bullying.

“They are being used for bullying, so we must really look into how they are used.”

At an education committee meeting earlier this month, councillors were updated on work around the use of mobile phones in schools.

Consultation has already been carried out through pupil council and head pupil meetings, parent council chair meetings and staff forums.

Education officials have also audited current practice in secondary schools. They reported: “Our next step will be to design and implement a fuller consultation, which will involve designing a questionnaire which will be issued to parents/carers, pupils and staff in schools.

“The results of this consultation will inform how we update guidance for schools in East Renfrewshire.”

An official told councillors that they would engage with stakeholders on the content of the questionnaires and aim to “have it ready for launching early August when schools come back”.

Cllr Gordon Wallace, Conservative, said one of four rules on smartphones suggested in the book ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt is phone-free schools.

It proposes storing phones, smart-watches and other personal devices that can send or receive texts in phone-lock pouches during the school day, he said.

Cllr Wallace added: “I appreciate suddenly firing that out to our youngsters who really spend an awful lot of their time on smartphones, that would be a big ask.

“I do appreciate the value of going out to consultation on this, but I don’t think there’s any question in anybody’s mind, the impact that smartphones are having on our youngsters.

“That’s not to say that we must do without them but we need to find a way through this for the benefit of our young people.”