Latest news with #KathleenRobertson
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Moray Council insists Buckie High School is safe after concerns
Moray Council has insisted Buckie High School remains a safe environment for pupils and staff after photos were posted online appearing to show it in a poor local authority said improvement work was ongoing and issues were being media posts of the secondary in a state of disrepair have been uploaded in recent days, with one parent saying the picures were a "massive concern".However, in a statement, council leader Kathleen Robertson said some of the damage shown was from storms in 2024, and that those specific issues were addressed at the time and had since been resolved. Stephen Birtwistle has a son at the school - as well as a son and daughter who will be moving up soon. He told BBC Scotland News: "Nobody wants to stress about their kids having to go into a school which is unsafe. "From the look of the pictures and the stories I am being told it is a massive concern as a parent, you just do not want that phone call saying something has happened to your child. "Our kids deserve better, it is not acceptable to have them at a school in that condition." Parents have long campaigned for an improved school to be built in its place but Moray Council said "work towards a long-term solution" was ongoing. Council leader Ms Robertson said: "We are aware of recent posts and photographs circulating online about the condition of Buckie High School and understand that parents, carers, and members of the community may feel concerned and upset by what they are seeing and reading online."While some current concerns have already been identified by both the council and the school, our maintenance teams are addressing them where appropriate."Any urgent matters are responded to as a priority."
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Mobile phones to be banned for thousands more pupils in Scots schools in major crackdown
The blanket ban will come into force later this year CALLING IT OFF Mobile phones to be banned for thousands more pupils in Scots schools in major crackdown Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOBILE phones are set to be banned from classrooms for thousands more Scottish pupils amid a major crackdown. Moray Council is the latest local authority to prohibit the use of devices across its primary and secondary schools. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Moray Council will ban mobile phones from classrooms later this year Credit: Getty It is hoped the move will reduce disruption in classrooms, as well as stop some incidents of bullying. In primary schools, mobiles and personal devices will not be allowed in school. And in secondary schools, students will need to keep phones switched off and out of sight during the day. The new policy would have exemptions for medical use such as diabetes monitoring. The blanket ban will come into force from August this year and follows a consultation involving parents, carers, pupils and school staff. A total of 73 per cent of 3,283 people who completed the survey supported the ban. The council stated that parents and staff it consulted in the survey strongly back the ban, but pupils did not. Councillors against the move raised concerns about pupils needing to be contacted regarding late transport or family issues. However, the move was voted through on the basis the policy will be reviewed in 12 months. Chair of Moray Council's Education, Communities and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: "We recognise that mobile devices are a part of everyday life and can enhance learning and teaching. Teachers have powers to ban phones "But we also recognise the risks associated with young people bringing their devices into school. "Namely bullying and harassment with inappropriate use detracting from learning. "We aspire for our schools to be places where pupils can focus, learn, and feel supported and guidance is being provided to Head Teachers to assist them to introduce this new approach while promoting positive relationships and behaviour." Last month, Perth and Kinross Council become the first in the country to blanket ban mobile phones in classrooms. The local authority will prohibit the use of mobile phones and other digital devices for both pupils and teachers during lessons. The personal mobile devices policy will be implemented in schools from August 2025 until 2028, when it will be reviewed. It blocks mobile phone use unless "explicitly permitted" for educational purposes. And thousands of pupils will be forced to give up their mobile phones during school in what is said to be a Scottish first in an effort to improve focus and mental health among pupils. Schools will introduce magnetic, lockable pouches for the devices in an attempt to curb distractions in class. It is also hoped the pouches, created by US company Yondr, will improve pupils' moods, encourage less screentime, and increase face-to-face interaction. Two schools in Edinburgh will become the first to pilot the phone-free scheme. Portobello High School will roll out the pouches across the campus on Wednesday, with Queensferry High School due to follow suit on Wednesday, May 14.
The National
13-05-2025
- General
- The National
Moray Council to ban mobile phones in schools: All to know
The local authority is the second one to approve a blanket ban on mobile phones in school classrooms after Perth and Kinross in April. The new approach will take effect from August 2025, as will the policy across Perth and Kinross, and follows a consultation involving parents, carers, pupils and school staff. The result of the survey, that received 3283 responses, was 73% of respondents in favour of the ban. In primary schools, mobiles and personal devices will not be allowed in school, unless needed for medical reasons. READ MORE: Almost 50 homes could be built on ex-festival site near BBC HQ in Glasgow In Moray's secondary schools, students will need to keep phones switched off and out of sight during the school day, except when needed for health purposes. It comes as two schools in Edinburgh are piloting a phone-free policy in what is said to be a Scottish first in an effort to improve focus and mental health among pupils. Portobello High School and Queensferry High School in Edinburgh have introduced magnetic, lockable pouches for the devices in an attempt to curb distractions in class. Chair of Moray Council's education, communities and leisure services committee, councillor Kathleen Robertson, said: 'We recognise that mobile devices are a part of everyday life and can enhance learning and teaching. But we also recognise the risks associated with young people bringing their devices into school. Namely bullying and harassment with inappropriate use detracting from learning. 'We aspire for our schools to be places where pupils can focus, learn, and feel supported and guidance is being provided to Head Teachers to assist them to introduce this new approach while promoting positive relationships and behaviour.' A breakdown of the survey data shows that 1659 parents/carers agreed with the ban terms, while 353 disagreed. 334 pupils agreed and 448 disagreed with 402 staff for the move and 87 against it. Key themes from the open comment section included strong support for the guidance due to issues like mobile phone distractions, concerns about enforcement practicality, and the need for exceptions for medical reasons. Respondents expressed mixed opinions on whether a complete ban was necessary, suggesting phones should be allowed during breaks and for safety, walking to and from school. Overall, the feedback highlighted the importance of clear enforcement guidelines, alternative technology provision, and safety considerations for pupils. Head Teachers will now develop local policies, aligned to their positive relationship policies, with more information being provided to parents and carers, pupils and staff before the start of the autumn term in August.
