Swinney rejects calls for phone ban in schools

Devices can contribute to learning, believes Deputy First Minister

Education secretary John Swinney has rejected Tory calls for mobile phones to be banned from primary schools.

The Deputy First Minister said the devices could contribute to learning, adding that schools and teachers should be left to make the decision.

Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour had called for them to be prohibited from primaries, saying research by the London School of Economics (LSE) showed better test scores were achieved in schools without mobiles.

“Key studies have identified the risk of allowing primary school children access to mobile phones while attending school,” Mr Balfour said.

“Based on these and other findings will the cabinet secretary agree with me it is now time to ban mobile phones in all primary schools in this country.”

But Mr Swinney disagreed, saying that the Scottish Government encourages schools and local authorities to “think carefully about how they can best utilise mobile phones to enhance education”.

He told MSPs: “The fundamental point comes down to the appropriate use and the arrangements that are put in place for appropriate mobile phone use within our schools system.

“I don’t think that should be prescribed from St Andrew’s House, I think that should be decided by teachers in the classrooms of our schools and they should have the freedom to determine what is the appropriate approach to take and how mobile phones can contribute to enhancing the learning environment.”