Argyll and Bute to review mobile phones in schools policy
Council chiefs will review the policy on mobile phones in schools in Argyll and Bute after the Scottish Government backed head teachers to ban the devices.
New guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools was published on Thursday August 15, with Scottish education secretary Jenny Gilruth saying the devices had become “intrinsic”.
She also said there was “a growing body of evidence” that excessive use of mobile phones can result in “limited concentration, unhappiness and isolation”.
Now Argyll and Bute Council has said it will review the policy on use of the devices in schools, despite having recently updated it.
A statement from the authority said: “We recently updated our mobile phone policy in schools and will now be reviewing it, following the publication of Scottish Government guidelines.
“We are confident our policy supports this national approach.”
Ms Gilruth said: “It is important we equip the next generation with the necessary skills and resilience associated with the modern age. Mobile phone use impacts on learning and teaching.
“Within this context, it is important Scotland’s headteachers are empowered to act in the best interests of their pupils, to support our hardworking teachers to ensure a consistent learning environment is provided to all pupils in our classrooms.
“That means empowering head teachers to take the steps they see fit to limit the use of mobile phones in our schools, up to and including a full ban on the school estate during the school day, if that is their judgement.
“I am clear in publishing this guidance that, as cabinet secretary, I will support any head teacher who decides to institute a ban on mobile phones in their school.
“Crucially, however, this decision is one which rests with Scotland’s head teachers, who know their pupils and their staff and who we trust to take the best decisions in the interests of their school communities.”
She added: “The Scottish Government does not intend to dictate approaches to our head teachers. They know better than anyone the specific approach which will work best in their school.
“But we are making clear with this guidance that our head teachers are empowered to take action up to and including a whole school ban.’
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Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
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JOBS
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
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