Latest news with #MichaelGregson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Highland schools asked to discuss pupils' phone use
Highland Council has asked schools in its area to have discussions round pupils' use of mobile phones in classrooms. The local authority said excessive use of phones was a "significant issue". Bans are already in force at Nairn Academy and Grantown Grammar School. Last month, councillors unanimously backed a proposal from Labour's Michael Gregson and Conservative's Helen Crawford for a wider consultation to be held. More stories from the Highlands and Islands News from the Highlands and Islands on BBC Sounds Mr Gregson and Ms Crawford said phones were having a disruptive effect on children and their education. The proposal agreed by councillors included a commitment from the local authority to support schools that decided to ban the devices. Other Scottish schools have taken steps to limit access to phones in class time. Pupils at two high schools in Edinburgh are having to keep their mobiles in lockable pouches during the day under a new phone-free policy. Students at Portobello High School and Queensferry High School are being issued with special wallets which once sealed require a magnetic pad to unlock them. Pupils are allowed to keep their phones in their possession but will be expected to keep them in the pouches until the bell rings at the end of their final lesson. Moray councillors voted last month to bring in stricter guidelines limiting the use of mobiles in schools from August. Councillors hoped the move would reduce disruption in the classroom, as well as stop some incidents of bullying. Scottish government guidance allows head teachers to make their own decisions on mobile phone use but Moray Council has decided to introduce blanket guidance. Moray's new policy would have exemptions for medical use such as diabetes monitoring. In August, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said headteachers across Scotland were trusted to take the best decisions in the interests of their school communities. The Highland Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Highland schools asked to discuss pupils' phone use
Highland Council has asked schools in its area to have discussions round pupils' use of mobile phones in local authority said excessive use of phones was a "significant issue". Bans are already in force at Nairn Academy and Grantown Grammar month, councillors unanimously backed a proposal from Labour's Michael Gregson and Conservative's Helen Crawford for a wider consultation to be held. Mr Gregson and Ms Crawford said phones were having a disruptive effect on children and their proposal agreed by councillors included a commitment from the local authority to support schools that decided to ban the Scottish schools have taken steps to limit access to phones in class at two high schools in Edinburgh are having to keep their mobiles in lockable pouches during the day under a new phone-free at Portobello High School and Queensferry High School are being issued with special wallets which once sealed require a magnetic pad to unlock are allowed to keep their phones in their possession but will be expected to keep them in the pouches until the bell rings at the end of their final councillors voted last month to bring in stricter guidelines limiting the use of mobiles in schools from hoped the move would reduce disruption in the classroom, as well as stop some incidents of government guidance allows head teachers to make their own decisions on mobile phone use but Moray Council has decided to introduce blanket new policy would have exemptions for medical use such as diabetes August, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said headteachers across Scotland were trusted to take the best decisions in the interests of their school communities.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Parents to be consulted on phones in Highland schools
Highland Council plans to consult parents and school staff on pupils' use of mobile phones in Academy and Grantown Grammar School have already introduced have now unanimously backed a proposal from Labour's Michael Gregson and Conservative's Helen Crawford for a wider Gregson and Ms Crawford said phones were having a disruptive effect on children and their education. The proposal includes a commitment from the local authority to support schools that decide to ban the devices. Inverness councillor Mr Gregson, who is a former teacher at Inverness Royal Academy, said phones were part of "an age of fragmented attention spans".Aird and Loch Ness councillor Ms Crawford raised concerns about phones being used to take photos or videos of teachers in classrooms, and the material then being used to bully or embarrass staff. She added: "At the end of the day, we want all our kids to thrive and having the constant distraction of a mobile phone clearly does not help."Let's get these phones out of our schools and let's free up our kids to concentrate and learn."Highland Council has 29 secondary schools, three special schools and more than 170 primary schools. Lockable pouches Plans for the consultation follows pupils at two high schools in Edinburgh having to keep their mobiles in lockable pouches during the day under a new phone-free at Portobello High School and Queensferry High School are being issued with special wallets which once sealed require a magnetic pad to unlock are allowed to keep their phones in their possession but will be expected to keep them in the pouches until the bell rings at the end of their final councillors voted earlier this month to bring in stricter guidelines limiting the use of mobiles in schools from hoped the move would reduce disruption in the classroom, as well as stop some incidents of government guidance allows head teachers to make their own decisions on mobile phone use but Moray Council has decided to introduce blanket new policy would have exemptions for medical use such as diabetes by local democracy journalist Will Angus.
