South Devon MP Caroline Voaden today called on the Prime Minister to back a smartphone ban in schools.
The question came after the South Devon MP chaired a roundtable on smartphones in schools, attended by a cross-party group of MPs, headteachers, and educational experts.
All three headteachers in attendance spoke of the transformational impact banning or restricting smartphones had had in their schools. Principal of Kingsbridge Community College, Tina Graham, said the shift in culture around mobile phone use had been ‘extraordinary’ after the college moved to becoming smartphone free, with a marked drop in negative behaviour.
Tom Beveridge, headteacher at Alderbrook School, and David Smith, headteacher at the Fulham Boys School, reported similar behavioural and academic improvements after imposing smartphone restrictions.
Academics Dr Ben Knight and Dr Paul Reford from UWE Bristol’s School of Education and Children shared research during the roundtable which may explain this trend.
Their study, Bristol Smartphone Experience and School Policy Project, which surveyed 3,721 secondary school pupils, 1,595 parents, and 352 secondary teachers across schools in inner city, suburban, and rural settings in and around Bristol, found that the children who reported struggling at school were also more likely to suffer negative smartphone experiences.
The research also uncovered that, at primary level, 95% of parents backed smartphone-free school days, with almost no opposition to total bans. Other studies have found similar levels of support, with research from Teacher Tapp finding that 70% of primary school teachers and 82% of secondary school teachers would prefer it if their schools had a complete ban on phones in school.
Despite this, the Prime Minister refused to support Ms Voaden’s call. Instead, he argued that the vast majority of schools already ban smartphones. While more than 90% of schools have some form of controls in place, research from the Policy Exchange found that only 11% of them are effective.
The roundtable was organised by Generation Focus, which campaigns for smartphone-free schools.
South Devon MP, Caroline Voaden said: “Given the Government’s desire to improve educational outcomes and the wellbeing of our children, it is deeply disappointing that they won’t back a smartphone ban. The research is absolutely clear: where bans are in place, schools report improved behaviour, far fewer safeguarding issues, and most importantly happier children. The Government guidance on smartphones at schools is scarily outdated compared to the situation on the ground. Every day, children are exposed to extreme content, like pornography, graphic violence, or material promoting self harm. Research shows parents are worryingly ignorant of the harms their children are regularly exposed to. Against this backdrop, it is baffling why the Government doesn’t move faster to issue guidance that bans smartphones from schools.”
Principal at Kingsbridge Community College, Tina Graham said: “Kingsbridge Community College has engaged extensively with our school community on the issue of smartphones, listening carefully to the views of students, parents and staff. As a result, we took the decision to become a smartphone free college. Our aim is to maintain the highest standards of education through a distraction free environment, strengthen safeguarding on our site and support the wellbeing of young people in our community.”
You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Threads where you can keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.
Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Get in touch via email admin@wearesouthdevon.com
