Perhaps one of the most contentious issues currently surrounding mobile phones is the ongoing debate about whether or not they should be banned in schools.
Supporters of a mobile phone ban argue that they are a source of constant distraction and can lead to behaviour that needs support amongst students. They also raise concerns around the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health, and the increased risk of cyber-bullying – a view that is posited by UNESCO in their 2023 Global Education Monitor report.
In February 2024, the then-UK government published guidance around prohibiting mobile phone use during the school day, as part of its plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour. Current government guidance in England suggests that an outright ban is unnecessary, as head teachers can put their own measures in place, on a school-by-school basis.
But it’s not only the UK which is reflecting on the impact of mobile phones in classrooms: in New South Wales, Australia, mobile phones are banned in all public schools, a move which has apparently led to improved learning, concentration, and socialising.
Even without any governmental guidance or intervention, we know that student mobile phone use is a common source of frustration and conflict for many teachers. According to BETT’s Student Behaviour Report 2024, 90% of teachers blame social media for students’ reduced attention spans, and a fifth say that unauthorised mobile phone use is amongst the most common type of ‘disruptive behaviour’ they face.
And it’s not just teachers who are concerned: data from Parentkind’s National Parent Survey shows that 50% of parents are worried about the amount of time their secondary school-age children spend on devices.
Mobile phones, and in particular, smartphones, are an integral part of all of our lives. They are rarely out of our hands, and we use them for just about everything: making calls, sending messages, scrolling social media, researching topics, and taking photos.
Because they are so central to our day-to-day lives, many children and young people may find the idea of an in-school mobile phone ban hard to accept. However, given the ongoing tension and controversy surrounding their use in classrooms, what practical steps can we take to reduce conflict between teachers and students?
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