Every day in our schools smartphones have the potential to negatively effect students.  Whether that is distraction from learning, TikTok videos filmed in school toilets, contact with strangers via chat apps, sharing of inappropriate or explicit content, physical fights recorded and widely shared in large WhatsApp groups or the non-consensual photos or filming of teachers or other students - leading to humiliation and bullying.  These are not isolated incidents. They are daily realities in many secondary schools where smartphones are technically 'banned' during lessons but still widely present - despite 'not to be used seen or heard' policies.

There have been multi calls on Government to address this issue, and what is said to be happening in schools and the reality is very different.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when questioned on smartphone free schools stated that a national ban 'is completely unnecessary'  linked here - arguing 'that almost every school bans phones'  - this position completely overlooks serious gaps between policy and practice.  

Similarly, Peter Kyle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in response to being asked about banning smartphones in schools claimed on BBC Question Time recently that “97% of schools already ban smartphones” and that pupils’ devices are typically “put in pouches or removed” linked here - These claims are factually incorrect and misleading.

According to a recent study by the Children's commissioner on smartphone policies only 11.4% of secondary schools either do not permit phones at all or ensure they are not accessible and locked away for the entire day.  The 79% of  Secondary schools that have "not to be used seen or heard" policies yet leave smartphones with students presume responsible use with reactive sanctions only once the mis-use has occurred - and only of course if seen by a teacher - yet teachers cannot be everywhere and nor should they be expected to police smartphone use.

And once the mis-use has occurred it is too late to erase - the beheading video has been watched, the non-consensual photo has been distributed, the pornographic content has been viewed, the humiliation and bullying continues.... This massive let down to children and teachers has been so normalised that many children, parents and teachers are no longer raising the alarms - it is apart of school life, expected.  It is now worryingly 'normal' for school children to share explicit content of themselves, each other - all facilitated by a smartphone.

Both Sir Keir Starmer and Peter Kyle’s comments completely overlook the safe guarding breaches that happen in our schools because of non-statutory guidance and loose policies.  Together, these Government views point to a growing disconnect between political assurances and the realities.

To ensure student wellbeing and to support effective learning environments, there is a rising demand for Government to provide clear, enforceable guidance, as well as resources for schools to become genuinely smartphone-free whilst students are in the school systems care.

Smartphones are not simple mobile phones.  They are mini computers with unrestricted internet access, cameras and filming capabilities which pose significant safe guarding risks to pupils.  The distinction in school policy needs to be made. 

Please keep sharing, keep advocating for safer learning environment's!