Council urged to support smartphone school ban

Parents and members of Smartphone Free Childhood gathered outside Oxford Town Hall

A father has asked a council to support a campaign to ban smartphone use in Oxford's schools.

Jack Abraham, a member of Smartphone Free Childhood, joined other parents at Oxford's Town Hall on Monday.

They called on the city council to help schools develop policies limiting pupils' access to mobile phones and social media.

Leader Susan Brown said while she had "enormous sympathy" with the campaign, the council was not the city's education authority and had no remit to instruct schools to do anything.

The local authority was due to debate the issue during a full council meeting, but ran out of time before reaching the motion.

Katherine Miles, who represents the Summertown ward and was due to propose the motion, said it was about acknowledging the concerns of parents and teachers.

Oxford City Council was due to debate the issue during a full council meeting but ran out of time

The appeal comes as Oxford Spires Academy has already introduced an outright ban on smartphones for Year 7 to 11 pupils from September, in favour of basic brick phones.

On Friday, another two fathers warned Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson they planned to take legal action against the current government guidance.

Will Orr-Ewing from Oxford and Pete Montgomery, who lives near Lancaster, believe a complete ban on smartphones in schools would be the safest approach.

Jack Abraham said schools needed "leadership" on the issue of smartphones

Mr Abraham said: "There is a huge risk that if leadership on this issue is not provided, then we will see more schools struggle to deliver the educational values and concepts they strive so hard to deliver every day.

"We will see more children suffer both physically and mentally."

Ms Miles said she was is in favour of the council writing to schools and offering its support.

"This is a live debate, nationally and locally," she said.

"It's about giving that recognition to teachers and the parents in the schools in our city that we care and we acknowledge their concerns about this and we will communicate this to our colleagues in Westminster."