Modern world
Phones, moans and zones
GSA reviews the way schools manage their pupils’ mobile devices
A new survey of how schools manage pupils’ use of mobile devices has found that schools across the country have broadly similar approaches, particularly when it comes to attitudes as children grow older. The survey, conducted by the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) and based on responses from 94 schools, found that schools generally allow greater access as children become older and learn how to assume more personal responsibility. When asked if pupils are allowed to have their mobile phones in school during the school day: • Just 16% of schools allow Year 7 pupils to keep their mobile phone on their person, with over half (53%) requiring pupils to keep phones in their locker/schoolbag, and 31% either requiring pupils to hand in their phones on arrival or banning them altogether. • By contrast, by the time students reach sixth form and Years 12 and 13, 85% of schools allow them to keep their mobile phones on their person, 23% require them to keep phones in their locker/schoolbag, and 2.5% either require students to hand in their phones on arrival or ban them altogether. Addressing girls’ school Heads at the GSA’s annual conference, GSA president, Gwen Byrom, said: ‘Everyone has an opinion – and some facts – about the negative impact of social media and mobile devices on children’s mental health. I do think… (we) adults must look to our own screen time and also the positive impact of screen-based technology on children’s future careers. I think it’s fair to say that it’s 30
Spring 2019
how we use technology, rather than technology per se, that is potentially harmful. The findings show broadly similar approaches, considering individual schools are free to adopt whatever policy they deem most appropriate.’ The survey shows that: Among those schools which allow pupils to use personal mobile phones in school during the school day, there are restrictions as to where on school premises they are allowed to use them. The survey found that, across all age groups: • 88% of schools don’t allow pupils to use their phones in the school corridors • 79% of schools don’t allow pupils to use their phones in any ‘public areas’ • 96% of schools don’t allow pupils to use their phones in the dining room • 65% of schools don’t allow pupils to use their phones in the library • 90% of schools DO allow pupils to use their phones in common rooms Behind the bare statistics, comments from individual respondents demonstrate that schools are taking a balanced view about how to handle an inescapable social phenomenon. ‘Girls are now using their phones for a greater amount of their free time, so we are watching this carefully.’ ‘We have had to introduce more explicit rules re taking of images which all pupils have to sign to say they understand. This is the most common misdemeanour in our school.’
