Experts reveal the impact mobile phone use in schools has on student wellbeing

"Restrictive mobile phone policies in schools do not improve student mental wellbeing, a new study has revealed. The research also revealed that enforcing rules around mobile phones in schools consumes more than 100 hours of staff time per week. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found no discernible difference in measures such as worry, sadness, or optimism among Year 8 and Year 10 pupils, regardless of whether their secondary schools enforced strict or lenient mobile phone rules."

"This revelation comes as the government recently updated its guidance, advocating against phone use in schools, and announced plans for a consultation on an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s. The study encompassed 20 secondary schools, carefully matched by characteristics, with 13 operating restrictive policies and seven adopting more permissive approaches. Permissive schools typically allowed phone use during break times, whereas restrictive institutions prohibited mobile phones throughout the entire school day or on school grounds."

Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that restrictive mobile phone policies in secondary schools do not improve student mental wellbeing. No discernible differences appeared in measures such as worry, sadness, or optimism among Year 8 and Year 10 pupils, regardless of schools' strictness. Enforcing restrictive rules consumed more than 100 hours of staff time per week. The study included 20 secondary schools matched by characteristics: 13 with restrictive policies and seven permissive schools that typically allowed phone use during breaks. The findings arrive as government guidance advises against phone use in schools and a consultation on an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s is planned.

Read at www.independent.co.uk