'I banned my kids from using smartphones - headteachers who don't are wrong'
Headteachers who haven't banned smartphones are wrong, a senior Tory has told Sky News - as she revealed she won't allow her own children to have one until they are 16.
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, told Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge smartphone usage in schools is a "massive problem across the country".
She said there's "lots of evidence" to show allowing the devices in classrooms leads to students getting lower GCSE grades - yet only 11% of schools have a full ban.
Ms Trott said she is so concerned about the impact of screen time, she has told her own young children - twin boys who are six and a girl who is eight - they won't be getting a smartphone until they are 16.
"I have been very clear with them because I see all this evidence about what social media does to children, and they are not getting a smartphone until they're 16," she said.
"And they're already not that happy about it."
Government resists calls for ban
Ms Trott was speaking ahead of a failed Conservative attempt in the Commons for a law that would force headteachers to ban phones in schools.
The Labour government has resisted such a move, and a Tory amendment to its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill - also backed by MPs from other parties - was defeated by 317 votes to 159.
It was put to Ms Trott the Tories often say they have a proud record of trusting headteachers to make decisions, having pushed for most state schools to become academies under the promise of giving them more freedom.
But she said a smartphone ban is a "safeguarding issue". Asked if that means headteachers who have not banned them have got it wrong, Ms Trott said: "Yes they have - absolutely."
"The evidence is overwhelming," she added.
"We know the impact it has on children and that's why it's important that every school up and down the country has this ban in place."
4:12
'Parents are asking for this'
Government guidance says schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones, but it's right that school leaders make decisions about what works for their individual settings.
Speaking during Monday's debate in the Commons, education minister Stephen Morgan said government monitoring of the guidance will be strengthened - and accused the Tories of "jumping on the bandwagon".
Ms Trott denied the amendment was a "gimmick", saying "parents, teachers, children are all asking for this".
There have been mixed studies about the merits of banning phones in classrooms.
In February, research by the University of Birmingham found restricting mobile phones at school does not improve grades or mental wellbeing, or reduce their overall screen time in a day.
But a study from last summer found schools that effectively ban mobile phones see better GCSE results.
Earlier this month, a backbench Labour MP was forced to water down proposed legislation to stop children "doom-scrolling" so it would get government backing.
Josh MacAlister had planned for his safer phones legislation to include a ban on the devices in classrooms, a well as raising the "digital age of consent" at which social media can be used to 16.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
34 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul
Councils in England will put strict requirements in place before 'socially necessary' routes can be changed or cancelled, the department said. This is aimed at services to locations such as hospitals and schools. The measure is part of the Government's Bus Services Bill, which reached its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday. This will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services. The Government will also reduce some of the red tape involved in bus franchising, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'We're committed to giving local leaders the power to shape the bus services their communities rely on. 'Our Bus Services Bill is a big step forward, protecting vital services that people depend on to get to work, school or essential appointments. 'We have taken a decisive step towards better buses, building on our £1 billion investment to improve and maintain bus services, keeping people connected, driving up living standards and growing the economy.' Ben Plowden, of lobby group the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Buses are the most-used form of public transport. 'Preserving vital bus services has long been central to our campaigning, so the new protections in the Bus Services Bill are very welcome indeed. 'Protecting existing services, and identifying and filling gaps in the network, is the way to ensure everyone can access opportunities and stay connected.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon attacked the Bus Services Bill as 'an ideological move that threatens essential services'. He said: 'They scrapped the £2 fare cap, slashed support for routes, and now want to strip away safeguards so councils can seize control of networks they aren't capable of operating. 'This is about Labour clinging to a fantasy of municipal socialism, whatever the cost to those who rely on local transport. Without the requirement to prove any benefit to passengers, Labour-run councils will be free to run yet another public service into the ground. 'We're not opposed to local decision-making. But this Bill offers no real investment, no credible delivery model, and no route to better services.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
35 minutes ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Paul Miller survives no-confidence vote over Welsh-medium education comments
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S deputy leader, Cllr Paul Miller, has survived a vote of no-confidence brought over controversial remarks about Welsh-medium education. Survived: Cllr Paul Miller At a special meeting held on Monday (June 2), councillors voted 28 against, 16 in favour, and 11 abstained, rejecting the motion tabled by the council's Independent Political Group. The motion followed comments made by Cllr Miller at a Cabinet meeting in April and again at the Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee in May, where he stated that 'mums he spoke to in Neyland didn't give a toss' whether their children were taught in Welsh or English, suggesting that some parents chose Ysgol Caer Elen for its facilities rather than its language policy. Calls for accountability Introducing the motion, Cllr Huw Murphy said the remarks were 'unacceptable in 2025' and risked undermining equality in the delivery of Welsh-medium education. He criticised Cllr Miller for proposing to gather data from parents on their language choices, despite being told that such a move fell outside the remit of the school admissions code. He added that the Deputy Leader had ignored advice from senior officers, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and even his own party's former First Minister, Mark Drakeford. Cabinet shift and apology In response, Cllr Miller said he was repeating what had been told to him by local parents and insisted he had not intended to offend. He admitted his wording had been clumsy and apologised for any upset caused. The Deputy Leader also pointed to a revised Cabinet decision made at an extraordinary meeting on May 21, which broadened the proposed parental survey to include all schools and all languages, rather than focusing solely on Welsh-medium settings. Cllr Miller maintained that the initial motion had been mischaracterised and accused political opponents of seeking to 'sow division' over a non-issue. Mixed reactions from councillors Council Chair Cllr Delme Harries reminded members that enabling choice in education was a core responsibility and stressed the need for respectful dialogue. He said: 'How we respond to being incorrect is important. The Welsh language is a living language and deserves our respect.' Some councillors, including Conservative Cllr Aled Thomas and Plaid Cymru's Cllr Michael Williams, acknowledged that the comments had been ill-judged but stopped short of supporting a motion of no-confidence. Others, including Cllr Jamie Adams and former Leader Cllr John Davies, said senior councillors must use discretion when amplifying public opinions. Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements said the Cabinet had already changed course and called the motion unnecessary, citing the £2,000 cost of holding the extraordinary meeting. 'That money would be better spent filling the black hole in the local authority's finances,' she said. Public response and political tension The incident has sparked wider debate about the promotion of Welsh-medium education, with strong reactions on both sides. Prominent journalist Hefin Wyn criticised the council's leadership for downplaying the issue and called the remarks an affront to the principle of language equality. His comments are due to be published in full in Friday's edition of The Pembrokeshire Herald. The council's revised position means parents of all school applicants may now be asked why they choose a particular setting. The final shape and cost of this data-gathering exercise have yet to be confirmed.
Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Cooper clashes with Reeves over spending cuts
Yvette Cooper is battling Rachel Reeves for more money with just a week left before the Treasury unveils new departmental budgets for the rest of the decade. The Home Office is understood to be one of the few departments that has not settled negotiations with the Treasury before the spending review concludes on June 11. Ms Cooper, the Home Secretary, had her hand strengthened when six police chiefs publicly warned that Labour promises could be missed without more money. Labour promised at last summer's general election to halve knife crime, reduce violence against women and girls and recruit 13,000 extra police officers, all of which need investment to deliver. Angela Rayner, the Communities Secretary, is understood to be another Cabinet minister who is taking their talks with the Chancellor down to the wire. She has been attempting to guarantee a significant funding boost for building social housing and is responsible for making sure councils are given enough money to deliver key services. Unprotected departments, for which the Government has made no specific spending promises, including the Home Office and the Communities, are facing real-terms cuts in their spending in the latter years of this decade. Overall day-to-day departmental spending will grow by 1.2 per cent annually in real terms in the financial years ahead but much of the increase will be taken up by the NHS, defence and schools budgets. Ms Reeves will attempt to frame the announcements as showing that Labour is focused on investing in the country's security, health and economy in every part of the country. Treasury insiders are pointing back to the £40 billion tax increase announced last autumn to counter Left-wing criticism that hard choices are not being made to protect public spending. But much of the money was front-loaded into the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, with spending rises set at much less generous levels for the three following financial years. The Chancellor's allies are making clear that there will be no tax changes announced next week, with any such decisions held off until the Budget in the autumn. Similarly, there will be no change to overall public spending levels – what is known as the spending 'envelope' – when Ms Reeves unveils the spending review conclusions. Instead, Cabinet ministers for weeks have been ordered to find savings in what Whitehall insiders admit is a tough set of negotiations with costs being closely scrutinised. Sir Keir Starmer has complicated calculations by announcing a part-reversal of the abolition of the universal winter fuel payment, which saw around 10 million pensioners lose the payments of up to £300 last year. The details of how many pensioners will get the payments this coming winter could come next week, the Prime Minister appeared to indicate in a BBC Radio 4 interview on Monday. One idea being scrutinised is to restore the payments for all pensioners and then claw equivalent money back from only the richest via the tax system. That would be a simpler solution than changing the threshold – currently set at around £11,500 a year – above which pensioners do not get the payment. But it would also see most of the £1.5 billion original saving being lost, meaning an alternative source of funds must be found. The spending review is not expected to announce new details for increasing defence spending from 2.5 per cent of GDP a year to 3 per cent. Sir Keir calls the target an 'ambition' and says it will be delivered in the next parliament, meaning after the next general election expected in 2029 if Labour is re-elected. He has faced mounting pressure over failing to name the year this will be delivered. But, with the specifics of how to hit 2.5 per cent only recently outlined, Treasury insiders insist detailed planning on when and how to reach 3 per cent is not coming next week. Six of Britain's police chiefs including Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Serena Kennedy, the chief constable of Merseyside Police, went public last week calling on the Treasury to properly fund the Home Office. They wrote in The Times that it was 'the most important moment in decades for the government to choose to back policing' and warned that their ability to 'secure outcomes for victims is at risk' without 'substantial investments'.
