School phone ban: Fife councillors' pledge to pupils and parents
Parents and pupils are to be consulted on the possibility of banning mobile phones in Fife schools.
Fife Council has been looking at introducing a blanket policy across its primary and secondaries amid a range of fears arising from phone use.
These concerns include devices causing a distraction from learning, disruption, inappropriate recording and sharing, online harm, cyberbullying, safeguarding, privacy and pressure to remain constantly connected during the school day.
It isn’t just phones that would be included – there has been increased use reported for devices such as smart eyewear, watches and other items which can record, film and access inappropriate content.
The consultation, which is set to start in the coming weeks if given the green light by members of Fife Council’s education scrutiny committee next Tuesday, asks for views on three options currently being considered.
The first is personal smart devices being switched off and out of sight during lessons, with controlled access possible during breaks.
The second is a “bell-to-bell” ban preventing use for the full school day, including break times.
A third option would involve a complete ban on personal smart devices being brought into school.
Any option taken forward will require a clear exemption process for learners who need a personal device for medical monitoring or health management, disability or additional support needs, assistive technology, caring responsibilities, safeguarding or another agreed exceptional circumstance.
A report from Donald Macleod, education chief, to be considered by the education scrutiny committee explained that pupils from P6 to S6 now have access to council-issued iPads through the ‘Transforming Learning’ programme which reduces the need for personal smartphones in education.
“The available evidence distinguishes between purposeful, supervised educational use of digital technology and unrestricted personal device use,” the report stated.
“School-provided devices can support access to learning, accessibility tools, research, creativity and digital skills. Unregulated personal phone use, particularly social media and messaging during learning, is associated with reduced focus, cognitive distraction and classroom disruption.
“There is limited evidence on improvements to learning from reduction in personal device use during breaks and lunch (bell to bell),” it continued.
“However, there is evidence that promoting in person interactions during break and lunch (the bell-to-bell approach) improves wellbeing and social interaction.
“It should be noted that schools have a limited scope to impact on device use outwith school, where larger effects are likely to be evident.
“Any Fife approach should therefore combine proportionate restrictions with digital citizenship, online safety, communication with families, consistent implementation and regular review.”
Consultation is set to begin this term with a report returning to councillors before a possible rollout of any new policy in August 2027.