Calls for a smartphone ban in Welsh schools have been rejected by a committee of politicians.
The Senedd’s petitions committee has instead recommended more support for schools to set their own restrictions, instead of an outright ban, after hearing how smartphones can support young people’s welfare and safety.
In a report published on Wednesday, it urged the Welsh government to establish clear guidance which would allow teachers to set the rules that work best for their pupils.
“The growing body of evidence about the harms of smartphones outweighing the benefits for children is both compelling and concerning,” said committee chair Carolyn Thomas.
“However, on balance we do not believe that it supports a move to a uniform ‘ban’ on smartphones in all Welsh schools.”
It comes after Sky News revealed last year that plans to ban smartphones from schools in England had been dropped.
Ms Thomas said it was clear to the committee that the relationship between young people and their phones was “not simple”.
Some experienced cyber-bullying, addiction and anxiety, while others were more able to manage health conditions and felt safer walking to school, according to evidence heard by the committee.
“Every so often a petition comes in that grabs our attention and sometimes things that seem the simplest, are much, much more complex once you scratch the surface,” Ms Thomas said.
Wales‘s Education Secretary Lynne Neagle told Sky News last year that an outright ban of mobile phones in Welsh schools was not planned.
“All schools have the power to prohibit the use of mobile phones in schools, and most of them do,” Ms Neagle said.
“What we ask when they’re considering these policies is that they think about the well-being of children and young people.”
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A Welsh government spokesperson told Sky News that “almost all schools in Wales have mobile phone policies, which can include banning them during lessons or at break time”.
“We are working with schools to ensure they have policies and resources to reduce the negative impacts of mobile phones and promote learning,” the spokesperson added.
“The education secretary is due to meet with Ofcom shortly to discuss mobile phone and social media usage.”
The committee’s recommendations will now be considered by the Welsh government, with a debate held in the Senedd at a later date.
