There should be no outright ban on smartphones in all schools, a Senedd committee has concluded after talking to pupils, parents and teachers. Instead, the Welsh Government should set “clear guidance” on how the devices are used, the Petitions Committee said in a wide ranging report.

A petition calling for a ban came before the committee, which decided to launch a report, which is published today. The committee found that while there is “plenty of evidence that point to the harms” of smartphones, they can also support young people’s welfare and safety.

At the moment it is up to individual schools in Wales to decide whether to ban phones and policies differ. The committee looked at these different rules and the “complex relationship” between young people and their smartphones. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.

The report, which stems from a petition by Zena Blackwell calling on Welsh Government to: "Ban smartphones in all schools in Wales (with exemptions for exceptional circumstances)." The petition calling of an outright ban shut on January 7, 2025 and collected 3,369 signatures.

It came amid ongoing debate worldwide about the risks posed to young people by he devices. But while there is “compelling and concerning” evidence that the harms of smartphones outweigh the benefits for children, a blanket school ban is not the answer, the committee report concludes.

Instead the committee is asking the Welsh Government to establish clear guidance to “give teachers the confidence to set rules that work best for their young people”. Committee chair Carolyn Thomas MS said there are pros and cons to smartphone use in schools.

“There are children who experience distraction, cyber-bullying, addiction and anxiety delivered through their phones. There are others who are liberated by being able to manage health conditions or feel emboldened to walk to school, knowing they can always contact a parent,” she said.

The huge number of children using smartphones in school

The report details just how many children own and use smartphones in schools that allow them. A report last year from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales showed 62% of primary school children and 97% of secondary age pupils own smartphones with 94% of secondary pupils with phones taking them to school, compared to 23% of primary pupils.

Of the secondary school pupils, 12% said they never used their phone in school, and 9% said the used it “all the time”. When asked if they were allowed to use their phone in class, 91% said they were not.

However, when asked if they ever used their phone in class, 48% said they had used it for learning, and 30% said they had used it for other things. A Primary School Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in 2022-233 found that at that time in Wales that time 83% of children in the last year of primary had a smartphone compared to 43% of year three pupils and there was little difference between family affluence.

The evidence gathered by the committee, along with its recommendations, will now be considered by Welsh Government for a response. A debate will be arranged in the Senedd in due course.

Opinion is divided among teachers. One teacher told the committee report “This ban wouldn’t be as easy to enforce in every school which is why this (a blanket ban) would be such a good idea. It takes all of that discussion and extra workload away from individual schools within their communities -which can be a challenge.”

One headteacher interviewed for the report, who had implemented a ban, said: “Daily, all I was dealing with was issues to do with nasty things that were being sent on mobile phones…there would be sexting, texting, children looking at inappropriate things, children talking to people they didn’t know online, online grooming. It was constant children safeguarding issues. I just thought this is crazy, we have to protect the children.”

Some heads worried enforcing a ban could become a full-time job for already stretched senior leadership teams. In contrast, classroom teachers felt having a ban or phone restrictions would make their lives easier

The committee also considered evidence Pembrokeshire County Council showing strong restrictions on smartphones in schools “had considerably improved behaviour and the teaching environment”

The sample size is relatively small - a survey of 52 staff and 212 pupils across four of Pembrokeshire’s secondary schools. Among the findings were that 96% of staff reported improved pupil concentration during lessons and 94% observed fewer behavioural challenges in lessons.

Staff said there were fewer behaviour issues at breaks and nearly nine in 10 felt the policy imrpoved wellbeing. Meanwhile 48% of pupils felt that school was a better environment without phones, 64% reported talking to more peers during breaks and 45% found it easier to concentrate in lessons. But 65% said they missed using phones for schoolwork and 30% were worried about not being able to check their phones.

Half of parents reported being pleased with the new policy and 40% felt that they learned better since the policy’s implementation. The evidence gathered by the committee, along with its recommendations, will now be considered by Welsh Government for a response. A debate will be arranged in the Senedd in due course.

The evidence gathered by the committee, along with its recommendations, will now be considered by Welsh Government for a response. A debate will be arranged in the Senedd in due course.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Almost all schools in Wales have mobile phone policies, which can include banning them during lessons or at breaktime. We are working with schools to ensure they have policies and resources to reduce the negative impacts of mobile phones and promote learning.

"The Education Secretary is due to meet with Ofcom shortly to discuss mobile phone and social media usage. We will consider the report’s recommendations.”

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