In a move to enhance learning and reduce distractions, the City of Edinburgh Council has launched a public consultation on expanding a pilot scheme that restricts mobile phone use in local secondary schools. The initiative, which has already been implemented at Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, requires students to store their phones in lockable pouches during the school day.
The consultation, which will run until March, aims to gather feedback from parents, pupils, and education staff on the potential rollout of the policy across all secondary schools in the city. The trial at the two pilot schools has reportedly received positive feedback, though considerations have been made for students who have medical or caring needs that require phone access.
Councillor James Dalgleish, the education, children and families convener, stated that there is broad support for keeping smartphones out of the classroom, but acknowledged that some individuals have concerns. “It is the right thing to do to make sure that citywide consultation with families and communities, alongside an integrated impact assessment, takes place to explore and address any issues or concerns,” he said.
The Scottish Government published guidance on mobile phone use in schools in August 2024, but the restrictions vary depending on the individual institution. The City of Edinburgh Council is now exploring options for financing the mobile phone restrictions, including the potential use of lockable pouches in secondary schools and lockable cabinets in primary schools.
Dalgleish emphasized the importance of getting the policy change right, stating, “I am working closely with officers to move this forward as quickly as we can, while also making sure that we have done our due diligence to ensure that restricting mobile phones in our schools will have the intended positive impact.”
The consultation marks a significant step in the ongoing debate surrounding the role of technology in the classroom. As schools grapple with balancing the educational benefits of digital devices with the potential for distraction, the outcome of this process will likely have implications for educational policies across Scotland.
