Edinburgh pupils to lock up their mobiles

Pupils at two high schools in Edinburgh will have to keep their mobiles in lockable pouches during the day under a new phone-free policy.

Students at Portobello High School and Queensferry High School are being issued with special wallets which once sealed require a magnetic pad to unlock them.

Pupils are allowed to keep their phones in their possession but will be expected to keep them in the pouches until the bell rings at the end of their final lesson.

Edinburgh Council's education convener said the move would end the "competition" between phones and teachers for pupils' attention.

Pupils in first to fifth year will have to keep their phones in pouches for the whole day, including during break and lunchtime, unless they leave the school grounds.

Sixth year students have their own common area, with an unlocking device.

The local authority said the crackdown on phone use had been supported by about 86% of pupils and parents at Portobello High School during a survey.

It cited research which suggested pupils accessing social media on mobile phones had an "adverse effect on learning ability".

The school said the ban would have no impact on learning because pupils already have access to iPads which offer digital resources without social media distractions.

The Scottish government issued guidance to headteachers last year which said a total phone ban was an option provided the needs of certain pupils, such as those with medical conditions, was taken into account.

It came after a 2022 study which showed about a third of pupils in Scottish classrooms admitted being distracted by phones in almost every lesson.

It is hoped bans will help curb disruptions such as distracting notifications as well as the filming of bullying incidents.

Portobello was the first Edinburgh school to implement the policy on Wednesday, with Queensferry following suit on 14 May.

The Yondr pouches are already in use in some schools elsewhere in the UK.

Education convener councillor Joan Griffiths said: "Mobile phones in classroom settings are increasingly competing with the teachers for learners' attention and limiting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive thing for our young people.

"I know that schools across Edinburgh, and indeed the country, are exploring ways to manage mobile phone use, including restricting phone use during the school day.

"The new pouches provide an innovative way for our young people to have distance from their devices while having the reassurance that they are still in their possession.

She added: "We hope that this new policy will increase focus on learning, reduce classroom distractions and help improve wellbeing."

Fans of singer Bob Dylan had to keep their phones in Yondr pouches during his UK tour last year, which included a date at Edinburgh's Usher Hall.

The legendary performer followed in the footsteps of Jack White, Alicia Keys and Childish Gambino, among others, to ban phones from his gigs.

They are also used widely in theatre and art galleries to stop alerts from disrupting performances.

The wallets work in a similar way to anti-theft tags seen on clothes or alcohol bottles in shops.

A device is placed inside and closed with a powerful magnet, which snaps it shut until it is tapped on an unlocking base.

But it does not function in the same way as a Faraday Cage, meaning electronic transmissions such as texts or calls are not blocked.

Several other Scottish councils have taken steps to regulate the use of phones in classrooms.

Most leave the enforcement to schools themselves.

At Inverness Royal Academy in the Highlands, phone signals are blocked inside the building, while only staff are given access to password-protected wi-fi.

Pupils can still access a signal in the school grounds.

Perth and Kinross Council said it "strictly prohibits" the use of phones during lesson time unless permitted by a teacher for educational purposes.

They said devices must be "turned off or on silent mode and stored in a manner that does not disturb the learning environment".

Scottish government advice has been issued to schools in Glasgow, but the local authority said it would be up to individual schools to implement the policy.

East Dunbartonshire, Moray and Shetland give schools autonomy to create their own rules, but have consulted with parents and carers on their future use.

East Lothian is also consulting on a future policy, but all of their secondary schools have rules stating phones must be kept in bags, lockers or appropriate storage while in classrooms.

Midlothian Council said schools would contact parents or carers if a pupil fails to comply with expectations that phones are switched off and out of sight during class time.

Meanwhile, Argyll and Bute Council said it would not be appropriate to ban phones in schools outright.