Edinburgh is set to become one of the first local authorities in the UK to introduce widespread restrictions on mobile phone use in schools, following a key committee decision ahead of the new academic year.
Councillors at the city’s Education, Children and Families Committee have approved a ‘bell to bell’ ban on mobile phones, meaning devices will be restricted throughout the entire school day when the policy comes into force in August.
Under the new rules, secondary school pupils will be required to place their phones in lockable pouches for the duration of the school day, while primary school pupils will store devices in secure cabinets. The move is designed to minimise classroom distractions and support a more focused learning environment.
Senior leadership teams in secondary schools will retain some flexibility, with the option to develop their own guidance on mobile phone access for senior phase pupils (S5 and S6) during breaks, lunchtime and independent study periods.
The decision follows successful pilot schemes at Portobello High School and Queensferry High School, where lockable pouches have been in use since last year. Early feedback from both staff and pupils has been described as positive, with anecdotal evidence suggesting improvements in engagement and classroom behaviour.
A six-week citywide consultation earlier this year drew almost 14,000 responses from parents, carers, pupils and school staff, with results indicating strong backing for restrictions. Support was particularly high among adults, with 97% of secondary school staff and 94% of parents and carers in favour of a ban. Among young people, 53% supported restrictions during teaching time.
Further targeted engagement was carried out with secondary pupils, headteachers, teaching unions and youth representatives, including members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and Edinburgh Youth Action.
To support the rollout, a £400,000 one-off investment was approved as part of the Council’s budget earlier this year, covering the purchase of lockable pouches and storage cabinets. A longer-term procurement strategy for the equipment will also be developed.
The council has confirmed that exemptions will be built into the policy for pupils who require access to their phones for health reasons or caring responsibilities, with detailed guidance to be issued to schools ahead of implementation.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor, described the move as a significant milestone for the city’s education system.
“This is a monumental step for Edinburgh’s children and young people and I am proud that we are one of the first local authorities in the country to introduce widespread restrictions on mobile phones in schools,” he said.
“I’ve been clear from the start that we wanted to be bold in our ambition to make our schools phone-free environments that enable our teachers to teach and pupils to learn without the distraction of devices in the classroom.
In Case You Missed It:
“The uniform introduction of lockable pouches in all our secondary schools will level the playing field for all learners in Edinburgh, streamlining a phone-free schools policy and guaranteeing that every single young person can get the most out of their time in the classroom.
“We know from the two pilots already underway that keeping phones out of the classroom is positive and, alongside our consultation showing broad support from teachers, school staff and parents and carers, I am confident that these restrictions will be warmly welcomed and hugely impactful.”
