Smartphones in Schools: A Double-Edged Sword for Students?
As the debate over smartphone use in schools heats up, students in Northamptonshire are sharing their surprisingly nuanced views. But here's where it gets controversial: while many pupils welcome limits on smartphones in the classroom, others argue they're essential for safety and communication. So, what's the right balance?
In September, West Northamptonshire Council launched a consultation to explore whether schools need clearer guidance on smartphone policies. This move comes amid growing concerns about the impact of these devices on children's focus and well-being. The campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood has even urged parents to hold off on giving kids smartphones until they turn 14. Daisy Greenwell, the group's co-founder, bluntly states, 'Smartphones and schools don't mix. The addictive nature of these devices makes it incredibly hard for children to concentrate, focus, and learn.'
And this is the part most people miss: according to Ofcom, a staggering 97% of 12 to 15-year-olds in the UK own a smartphone, and even 19% of children aged three to five have their own device. These numbers highlight the pervasive role smartphones play in young lives, but they also raise questions about their appropriateness in educational settings.
At Earls Barton Primary School, a smartphone ban was introduced this academic year. Maggie, a 10-year-old with an iPhone 13, supports the ban, noting it protects pupils from the pressures of social media. She explains, 'Social media can make girls feel insecure about their bodies. People tell them what to wear or how to act, and it can really affect how they feel about themselves.' Maggie uses her phone mainly to stay in touch with her parents and play games like Roblox.
Ethan, another 10-year-old at Earls Barton, has mixed feelings. He admits, 'I don’t really need a good phone. I just text my friends and my parents if I’m in trouble.' While he sees the value of smartphones for safety, he also acknowledges the benefits of a ban: 'It’s good because we can focus and not get distracted.' His parents gave him an iPhone 8 when he started going out alone more often, and he believes the ban has been 'better' for him overall.
For older students like Ameerah, 17, smartphones have been a part of life since childhood. She received her first phone at age eight for safety reasons, and her parents used it to track her location. Now, she spends around six hours a day on her phone, mostly on social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Despite age restrictions on some platforms, she admits it’s easy to get carried away.
Deniz, also 17, got her first smartphone in secondary school and estimates she spends about four hours a day on it during the week—a number that spikes on weekends. At The Duston School, students have limited phone access, a policy Deniz describes as having both 'benefits and drawbacks.' She explains, 'It’s helpful for accessing work when computers are busy, but it’s also easy to start scrolling and lose focus.'
Beth Griffiths, a science teacher at The Duston School, emphasizes the importance of working with parents. 'Many parents give their children smartphones with the best intentions, but most also support restrictions in school,' she says. However, as Kathryn Shaw, a Reform UK councillor, points out, 'We can provide guidance, but we cannot enforce policies across all schools.'
The Department for Education offers four options for schools: collecting phones at the start of the day, storing them securely, requiring they remain out of sight, or implementing a full ban. Each approach has its merits, but the question remains: What’s the best way to balance safety, learning, and digital responsibility?
What do you think? Should smartphones be banned in schools, or is there a middle ground? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your perspective!
