Exclusive:SNP government urged to set out school phone ban timeline
Labour MP Gregor Poynton said the SNP should “stop going round in circles and get on with delivering it”.
The Scottish government has been urged to publish a timetable for banning phones in schools ahead of a consultation closing on the subject.
Labour MP Gregor Poynton said the SNP should “stop going round in circles and get on with delivering it”.
The Scottish Government's consultation on phone restrictions closes on Tuesday next week.
It comes after the UK government announced new guidance this week which would mean that pupils cannot access their phones during the school day.
Statutory guidance which made schools and trusts legally responsible for being phone-free throughout the day came into force in England in June.
But the new rules, which will come into place next year, will ban mobiles from pupils bags or pockets.
Livingston MP Mr Poynton said: “Parents and teachers have been raising concerns about mobile phones in our schools for years. They know the impact constant distractions can have on concentration, behaviour and children’s ability to learn.
“Labour recognised this and made phone-free classrooms a clear commitment ahead of the Scottish Parliament election. At that point, the SNP Government was still relying on guidance which left individual schools and headteachers to decide their own approach.
“The SNP subsequently adopted the policy too, and ministers have now accepted that legislation is needed. But after nearly 20 years in government, why are we still waiting for a clear plan to deliver it?
“The SNP has had years to address this issue. Its original guidance dates back to 2024, yet the Government itself acknowledges that the current approach leaves children facing different rules depending on which school they attend.
“Consultation has its place, and of course we need sensible exemptions for pupils with medical conditions, additional support needs or caring responsibilities. But ministers have already committed to legislating. The time has come to stop going round in circles and get on with delivering it.
“While the UK Labour Government in England is strengthening its approach to phone-free schools, Scotland is still working through a consultation on legislation that the SNP has promised.
“With the consultation closing on 17 November, the Education Secretary must now give parents, teachers and schools a clear timetable. When will the Bill be introduced? When will it become law? And when can schools expect these restrictions to be in place?
“Children deserve classrooms where they can concentrate on learning, and teachers deserve the backing to make that happen.
“After almost two decades in power, the SNP cannot keep promising action without setting out when it will actually be delivered. It's time to stop dragging its feet and get on with delivering phone-free schools.”
Scottish Labour put banning mobile phones in classrooms in its Holyrood election manifesto.
At the time, the Scottish government's position remained that individual headteachers should determine their own policies, with existing national guidance leaving schools to decide how far to restrict mobile phone use.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan confirmed after the election that the Scottish government would bring in a phone ban and launched a consultation in August.
But the consultation itself acknowledges that existing Scottish government guidance is non-statutory, meaning some schools have full bans in place while others have more limited restrictions or none at all.
A Bill is expected to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible following the consultation. Ministers have not yet specified a date for its introduction or when the new restrictions will take effect.
The Scottish government was approached for comment.
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