Call to ban smartphones in Oxford schools over fears

This comes after a number of parents and teachers across the county urged for more to be done to support a ban on children using smartphones during school hours.

The motion was put forward by the Liberal Democrat group and is set for debate at the full council meeting on Monday, March 25.

It calls for the “immediate implementation of a ban on the use of smartphones in all primary and secondary schools for children up to the age of 16 years within Oxford”, with the exception of “certain academic activities or research”, or for students with specific learning needs who may need to use smartphones as a support tool.

Rob Pavey, headteacher of Cheney School, in Headington, said he supported measures to reduce phone use, but a total ban on smartphones is “very unlikely to be enforceable”.

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He added: “Our policy is that phones should not be seen or heard during the school day, and we work with our primary school partners to actively encourage parents not to buy their children a smartphone for the transition to secondary.

“We say that children should not have a smartphone before Year 9, although this is a parental choice.

“We would support measures which reduce phone usage, and help children to cut down the time spent on social media, but we recognise that a total ban is very unlikely to be enforceable.”

(Image: Oxford City Council) Councillor Jo Sandelson, who put forward the motion, said: “I have spoken to many parents who are increasingly frustrated with the lack of legislation to back up the need to support their children in not using their smartphones excessively during school hours.

“There are always going to be exceptions to the rule.

"A more general ban may be more appropriate for some schools, but there has to be flexibility within schools to make those individual choices.

She added that mental health and welfare are "much better" when children do not use smartphones excessively.

(Image: Newsquest) Councillor John Howson, cabinet member for children, education & young people's services on the county council, said he was glad that the issue had been raised, and that he could understand the need for a ban under certain circumstances.

He said: “For me, as the county cabinet member, this is a matter for each school to decide, rather like it is over whether to have a uniform or not.

“The other issues around a ban can include bullying by phone – it will stop it in schools, but it will not stop it happening.

“It may be about teaching sensible use of the phone, not policing a complete ban.

“As to the time spent on phones in schools contributing to the total time children spend on phones, that is a much wider societal issue.”

While the city council will debate the motion, Oxfordshire County Council are responsible for schools.