Edinburgh Secondary Schools Implement City-Wide Mobile Phone Ban From August
From August, all state secondary schools in Edinburgh will enforce a ban on mobile phones throughout the school day, including during breaks and lunchtime. Pupils will be required to store their devices in magnetically sealed pouches.
A consultation preceding this decision revealed that 75% of parents and staff supported the ban. While most pupils expressed a desire to retain access to their devices during breaks, Edinburgh city councillors opted for a comprehensive, day-long prohibition, deeming it the most effective approach.
Senior leadership teams within schools will retain discretion regarding mobile phone access for S5 and S6 pupils during breaks, lunchtime, and independent study periods. Primary school pupils will place their mobile devices in lockers for the day. The new policy also extends to smartwatches in both primary and secondary education settings.
An exemption policy is under development for pupils who necessitate phone access for health or other imperative reasons.
Councillor James Dalgleish, convener of the education, children and families committee, described the initiative as "a monumental step for Edinburgh's children and young people." He underscored the ambition to create "phone-free environments that enable our teachers to teach and pupils to learn without the distraction of devices."
This move aligns with Scottish government guidance, introduced in 2024, which permits head teachers to implement phone bans. A 2022 study indicated that approximately one-third of Scottish pupils admitted distraction from devices in classrooms. Council funding of £400,000 was allocated in February to support these restrictions. Pilot programmes utilising lockable pouches at Portobello and Queensferry high schools have been described as "broadly successful," with positive initial impacts.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan recently informed Holyrood that new national guidance would be published to assist schools in addressing the "spectrum of harm" associated with mobile phone use, including increased risks of depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and poor health among adolescents. McAllan also stated that ministers would advocate for the UK government to ban social media for under-16s.
