Member

The Children’s Commissioner’s report is clear that, although schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, it is for head teachers to implement policies that are the most appropriate for their schools’ needs and context. An absolute ban on smartphones would not allow for that flexibility. It would not allow for the flexibility outlined by my noble friend Lord Knight about the use of mobile phones in education. The noble Lord, Lord Storey, referenced the OECD report, which identified that the use of mobile phones for one hour or less a day—obviously, very tightly controlled—benefited children more than a complete ban.