Latest news with #NairnAcademy
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
5 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.
Press and Journal
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Prom photos: Nairn Academy Class of 2025 leavers' ball
The Class of 2025 at Nairn Academy has officially partied together for the final time at their glitzy prom. Senior pupils were smartly dressed as they gathered for their leavers' ball at the Muthu Newton Hotel in Nairn. And they made it a night to remember before going their separate ways in the world. Here the school has shared pictures with us of the party night… The Nairn Academy ball at the Muthu Newton Hotel is the latest to feature in our Class of '25 series. Over the next few weeks, we will showcase pictures from some of the leavers' proms and dances for secondary schools across the north east and beyond. If you enjoyed this story, then maybe you'd like these:
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.
Press and Journal
16-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Mobile phone ban in Highland schools moves step closer as former teacher warns of 'catastrophic' effects on pupils
Highland Council will soon be asking for views on mobile phone-use in schools after an ex-teacher spoke of the 'catastrophic' effects they have in classrooms. Joint proposals tabled by Michael Gregson, who is now an Inverness councillor, to hold a consultation with the 'whole school community' on the use of devices have been unanimously approved. Included in the plan is the council's commitment to supporting Highland schools that decide to ban pupils from using the devices in classrooms. The proposals have not called for an outright ban, but the authors have made their voices clear that schools would be better without the 'constant distraction' of phones. Inverness councillor Mr Gregson, who previously taught at Inverness Royal Academy, highlighted the current effects of phone-use in classrooms to councillors. The former English teacher said 'we are in an age of fragmented attention span' and the 'highly addictive nature of smartphones is having a lasting effect on children's brains.' Mr Gregson described the current situation as 'catastrophic' and called for Highland Council to 'address the power of mobile phones.' He proposed the local authority consult the 'whole school community' and develop a policy for phones in schools which teachers could adopt or adapt. He referenced a recent workshop by Bernadette Cairns, the principal educational psychologist at the council, who found there to be 'dysregulation and disengagement' in Highland classrooms. Mr Gregson also referenced the current 'abusive use of mobile phones' in Scottish schools. It comes after a Moray teacher spoke out about being filmed in school and shared online by pupils without her consent. Aird and Loch Ness councillor Helen Crawford co-signed the proposals and said this was also an issue in Highland schools. She called unwarranted photos or videos of teachers in the classroom 'entirely inappropriate and disrespectful'. Councillor Crawford added the footage is used to 'bully or embarrass' teachers and hopes a ban on phones 'will ensure that comes to an end.' The newly agreed proposal will see the council seek 'meaningful conversations' with school managers, parents, teachers and pupils for their views on phone-use in schools. Both councillors stressed this does not necessarily mean an outright ban, but hopes a consultation will be a step towards getting 'these phones out of our schools.' Nairn Academy and Grantown Grammar School have both already implemented their own individual bans on phones. In the Highlands every child is given a Chromebook laptop, and both Mr Gregson and Mrs Crawford say this removes the 'need for phones as educational tools.' The cross-party proposal faced no opposition in the chamber and officers will begin work on preparing the consultation. Both Labour councillor Michael Gregson and Conservative councillor Helen Crawford said they were 'delighted.' Speaking after the result, Mrs Crawford said: 'I'm delighted that schools across Highland now have the full backing of Highland Council when they implement a ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day. '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.' She added: 'Let's get these phones out of our schools and let's free up our kids to concentrate and learn.'
