Labour to monitor whether strict smartphone rules are followed in schools
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will monitor a group of schools to determine whether guidance to stop children from using smartphones is being followed.
The government is reportedly frustrated at a lack of oversight of the guidance amid growing concerns about the impact of smartphone usage on the physical and mental well-being of pre-teens and teenagers.
The Department of Education published new rules for mobile phones in schools in February last year.
It states that “all schools” should prevent mobile phones from being used during the day, with the ban also covering breaks and lunchtimes.
However, there’s currently no monitoring system in place to enforce the rules.
Phillipson will now scrutinise behaviour in multiple schools in England to get a better understanding of whether the guidance is being followed — and, more importantly — if it’s effective.
The monitoring will examine the methods used to keep smartphones away from children and if and how they are helping behaviour.
Labour is believed to be annoyed that the previous Conservative government didn’t put a robust system in place to track how the rules were being implemented.
A government source added: “While the vast majority of schools are complying with the guidance we need to make sure it’s being followed to the letter.”
The latest developments come in the wake of a study that found 73% of Gen Z — aged 13 and upwards — have viewed misogynistic content on social media.
A total ban on smartphones in schools is now looming.
A poll from Ipsos published last September showed broad support for a complete ban and to give teachers powers to make schools phone-free.