Proposed by: Councillor John Lancaster
Seconded by: Councillor Thomas Parkhill
This Council notes:
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1) |
That many young people have their own mobile phone (including smartphones) and that many choose to take them into school;
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2) |
There is evidence that mobile phones distract children from learning in the classroom. One study* indicates that banning mobile phones in the classroom significantly increased performance in high stakes exams and that increases in achievement are driven by the lowest performing students, thereby reducing educational inequality;
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3) |
In Llanishen High School,the use of mobile phones has been banned on school premises and the result has been an overall improvement in pupil behaviour;
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4) |
There are instances where mobile phones are needed in school by pupils and that each school is best placed to make the decision.
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This Council calls on the Executive to bring forward a report considering the advantages and disadvantages of schools banning the use of phones on school premises for pupils up to and including Year 11. The report should contain a clear recommendation asking Governing bodies to consider this in their school.Any such ban should complement existing teaching of pupils in the safe and responsible usage of mobile devices.
*Beland, L & Murphy R: Ill Communication: Technology, Distraction & Student Performance. London School of Economics and Political Science, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper 1350 (May 2015).