Headteachers who haven’t banned smartphones are wrong, a senior Tory has told Sky News – as she revealed she won’t allow her own children to have one until they are 16.
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, told Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge smartphone usage in schools is a “massive problem across the country”.
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She said there’s “lots of evidence” to show allowing the devices in classrooms leads to students getting lower GCSE grades – yet only 11% of schools have a full ban.
Ms Trott said she is so concerned about the impact of screen time, she has told her own young children – twin boys who are six and a girl who is eight – they won’t be getting a smartphone until they are 16.
“I have been very clear with them because I see all this evidence about what social media does to children, and they are not getting a smartphone until they’re 16,” she said.
“And they’re already not that happy about it.”
Government resists calls for ban
Ms Trott was speaking ahead of a failed Conservative attempt in the Commons for a law that would force headteachers to ban phones in schools.
The Labour government has resisted such a move, and a Tory amendment to its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – also backed by MPs from other parties – was defeated by 317 votes to 159.
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It was put to Ms Trott the Tories often say they have a proud record of trusting headteachers to make decisions, having pushed for most state schools to become academies under the promise of giving them more freedom.
But she said a smartphone ban is a “safeguarding issue”. Asked if that means headteachers who have not banned them have got it wrong, Ms Trott said: “Yes they have – absolutely.”
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“The evidence is overwhelming,” she added.
“We know the impact it has on children and that’s why it’s important that every school up and down the country has this ban in place.”
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‘Parents are asking for this’
Government guidance says schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones, but it’s right that school leaders make decisions about what works for their individual settings.
Speaking during Monday’s debate in the Commons, education minister Stephen Morgan said government monitoring of the guidance will be strengthened – and accused the Tories of “jumping on the bandwagon”.
Ms Trott denied the amendment was a “gimmick”, saying “parents, teachers, children are all asking for this”.
There have been mixed studies about the merits of banning phones in classrooms.
In February, research by the University of Birmingham found restricting mobile phones at school does not improve grades or mental wellbeing, or reduce their overall screen time in a day.
But a study from last summer found schools that effectively ban mobile phones see better GCSE results.
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Earlier this month, a backbench Labour MP was forced to water down proposed legislation to stop children “doom-scrolling” so it would get government backing.
Josh MacAlister had planned for his safer phones legislation to include a ban on the devices in classrooms, a well as raising the “digital age of consent” at which social media can be used to 16.
But in the face of ministerial opposition, the bill now just calls for chief medical officers to review the evidence on screen-based harms within a year – before deciding if there should be higher age restrictions.
