The Conservative Party has announced plans to push for a legislative ban on mobile phones in schools, following an admission that previous guidance on the matter has been ineffective. This development comes as the Conservatives seek to amend Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.

The initiative was spearheaded by Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott, who, speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, stated that the existing guidance issued by the former Conservative government last year “hasn’t worked.” Many students continue to use mobile devices in classrooms despite the recommendations.

Trott emphasised the need for a statutory ban, declaring, “Now it is time to make it law”. She further asserted that when visiting schools, headteachers have expressed a desire for stricter regulations around mobile phone usage. Trott noted, “When I go into schools which have these kinds of bans, the pupils love it. They talk about how much safer it makes them feel.”

Trott’s comments highlight a broader concern regarding the impact of mobile devices on education, suggesting that their presence may contribute to distractions and hinder the learning environment. She described the potential benefits of implementing a ban, stating, “Introducing something which reduces distraction, encourages reading, helps with behaviour, for me, is an absolute no-brainer.”

Conversely, the Labour government, led by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, has not proposed an outright ban on mobile phones in schools. Phillipson acknowledged the disruptive nature of mobile devices, asserting their “no place” in educational settings. In a recent address to the annual conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in Liverpool, she reiterated the government’s support for schools to enforce existing guidelines regarding phone usage.

Phillipson remarked, “You know, we all know, that phones are disruptive, distracting, bad for behaviour. They have no place in our schools.” Additionally, she called for enhanced enforcement of regulations, noting that the previous Conservative policy was sound. “What we need to ensure is that it’s being enforced right across the country, in every classroom,” she stated.

Currently, approximately 97 per cent of schools have instituted some form of restriction on mobile phone usage. School leaders maintain the authority to implement complete bans, a choice that many have exercised. As the Conservative Party prepares to make its case for the amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it remains uncertain whether they will garner enough support in a Parliament where Labour holds a significant majority of 167 MPs.

Trott acknowledged the uphill battle her party faces in garnering enough votes to implement the proposed ban. “I’ve got to make the argument,” she explained, and she encouraged parents, teachers, and students across the country to advocate for the change.

Source: Noah Wire Services