The battle begins to make mobile-free schools a law

Calls for a law to ban smartphones in schools in England are growing, as education experts and unions back an MP’s bid to get a new law through parliament.

Children who are forced to scroll ‘for hours every day’ are causing widespread harm, according to Josh MacAlister, the Labor MP and former teacher behind the bill being introduced in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Most schools in England already have a ban or restriction on telephone use government guidelines were introduced earlier this year.

But Mr MacAlister wants to turn the guidelines into law, as well as introduce what he calls “seat belt legislation” for children’s use of social media.

MPs could debate the proposals in the new year, if there is sufficient parliamentary time.

Private members’ bills rarely become law without government support, but they do provide an opportunity for grassroots supporters to highlight an issue.

And the Safer Phones Bill adds momentum to the growing call to limit children’s smartphone use. where local schools come together to review their phone policy and parent groups join forces delay giving their child a smartphone.

Some are in favor of smartphones say they provide good opportunities for child development, including socialization, and that there is little evidence to support the limitations of devices in schools.

Mr MacAlister, the MP for Whitehaven and Workington, is using the bill to call for:

• a legal requirement that all schools must be mobile-free zones

• the age at which online companies can obtain data consent from children without parental consent to be raised from 13 to 16

• Ofcom’s powers should be strengthened so it can enforce a code of conduct to prevent children being exposed to apps and services “addictive by design”

• further regulation, where necessary, of the design, supply, marketing and use of mobile phones by young people under the age of 16

“Countries around the world are taking bold action now and our children are at risk of being left behind,” says MacAlister previously led an independent inquiry into children’s social caresaid.

“It’s time for a national debate here in Britain.”

The bill is backed by former Conservative Education Secretary Kit Malthouse MP, the current and former children’s commissioners and a coalition of parents campaign groups, school leaders, children’s charities and education unions.

General secretary of the Association of School and University Leaders, Pepe Di’lasio, said: “It is not enough to rely solely on parents and schools teaching children about the dangers of smartphones.

“We have reached a point where regulation is needed over their sale and the conduct of online platforms.”

Ormiston Chadwick Academy in Cheshire became a phone-free school at the start of this school year.

Principal Jennifer Lowry-Johnson says the school has always had a phone ban, with devices kept in bags or “out of sight” in blazer pockets, but the distractions were still there.

Now, students who bring a phone must put it in a locked box for a day.

“I have seen a huge increase in the number of students coming in for football at lunchtime,” says Ms Lowry-Johnson, as well as fewer students wanting to go to the toilet at break time and during lessons “to check notifications ”.

“We have already seen a reduction of more than 50% in the number of safe referrals related to social media and content we deem inappropriate,” she added.

When the policy was announced, Year 11 Emilia couldn’t believe the school would take her phone away from her, but now says: “It’s basically put my worries to rest.

“My friend group used to be very volatile, with drama on social media,” she says.

‘It used to start between girls.

‘Now we’re closer.

“People who used to cause drama no longer have a place for that.”

Her friend Dewmi agrees and says her parents have noticed that she is studying “a lot more” than before.

Rebekah Wershbale, from Macclesfield, has not given her 10-year-old daughter a smartphone but is concerned about her becoming isolated from her peers.

“I worry that she will feel like she has nothing in common with them,” she says.

“Because if they spend more time online and she doesn’t, she will feel socially disadvantaged.”

Her daughter hates her phone ban and it has become a real bone of contention, says Ms Wershbale, but children don’t understand how apps are designed to be addictive and banning them from all schools is a no-brainer.

Social media companies, including Snapchat and Meta, have previously said they provide additional protection for under-18s and help parents control what their children see.

Earlier this month, Instagram also launched Teen Accounts, giving 13-15 year olds private accounts by default and protections to help them manage their time on the app.

Meta, Snapchat and TikTok did not respond to BBC News’ request for further comment.