Consultation to be held on phones in schools

A local authority will hold a consultation about students having mobile phones in schools.

West Northamptonshire Council said it could not impose a ban but would look to give out clear and consistent guidance to teachers on the topic to "support our young people".

At a meeting, councillors agreed that phones and devices should not be used during lessons, but some parents liked to be able to contact their child while travelling to school in case of an emergency.

Katie Moore, a mother from Northampton, said there was too much of a "grey area" and supported the need for clarity as her daughter had been "exposed to content no child should ever see - in a place I trusted to be safe".

West Northamptonshire Council discussed the issue at a full council meeting

The council said it would hold a formal public consultation with parents, pupils and schools at a later date.

During the full council meeting, Conservative councillor and former cabinet member for children and education, Fiona Baker, said: "There's a huge rise in the mental health concerns of our young people and we must do everything we can to support our young people," she said.

The current Department for Education (DfE) guidance on mobile phones sets out four potential models for schools, including handing devices in on arrival, storing phones securely, keeping them out of sight and unused, or banning mobiles in schools entirely, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Ms Moore said: "My daughter attended an outstanding secondary school in Northampton, yet she was exposed to content no child should ever see - in a place I trusted to be safe.

"Why, when it comes to smartphones, devices that facilitate cyber-bullying, non-consensual filming, addiction and sharing of explicit content, are we allowing this grey area?"

Liberal Democrat councillor David Tarburn said: "I would be very unhappy personally at the thought of [my daughter] walking to school with no method of her contacting me in the case of an emergency."

Independent councillor Ian McCord said: "Leave schools alone, leave them to produce their own policy and leave parents to parent."

Reform UK cabinet member for children, families and education, Councillor Kathryn Shaw, said: "We can provide guidance, consultation and leadership, but we cannot enforce policy across trusts."