Consultation launched on banning mobile phones in all Edinburgh schools
A consultation has been launched on whether to ban mobile phones in all Edinburgh schools.
Pupils, families and school staff are being urged to give their views.
The city's education committee has already voted for a ban in primary schools, though it has not been implemented while an impact assessment is carried out.
Meanwhile, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools are involved in a two-year trial of a system which requires pupils to lock their phones in pouches while they are at school.
The consultation focuses on whether such a system should be extended to all secondary schools in the Capital.
But the education committee has been presented with four different options for a ban.
Option 1 would mean lockable pouches for all secondary schools and lockable cabinets in all primary schools.
Option 2 would be lockable cabinets for all primary and secondary schools.
Option 3 would see lockable pouches provided in some secondary schools and cabinets in all primary schools.
And Option 4 would agree a policy ban but require schools to determine how it would be enforced at local level.
A report to the committee said feedback from both Portobello and Queensferry on the pouch trial, which started in May 2024, has been largely positive.
Last year, maths teacher Emily Borrill described the “constant battle” between teachers and pupils over use of phones in the classroom, with some children watching TikTok or messaging each other rather than concentrating on their work.
Education convener James Dalgleish said: “In September 2025, it was agreed that restricting the use of mobile phones in our schools would be a positive step forward.
“We want these new measures to be brought in as soon as is practical, but it is the right thing to do to make sure that citywide consultation with families and communities, alongside an integrated impact assessment, takes place to explore and address any issues or concerns.
“Through many conversations, I understand that there is broad support for keeping smartphones out of the classroom, however there are individuals who have concerns which makes it even more important that as a council we get this change right.
“Pilots, using lockable pouches, at Queensferry and Portobello High Schools have anecdotally been broadly successful, and as such the rollout of pouches in other settings needs to be explored.
“This includes options for financing mobile phone restrictions and the potential use of lockable pouches in secondary schools and lockable cabinets in primary schools.
“I am working closely with officers to move this forward as quickly as we can, while also making sure that we have done our due diligence to ensure that restricting mobile phones in our schools will have the intended positive impact.”
Separate surveys for pupils, parents or carers and school staff ask about whether they are aware of pupils being shown inappropriate images or videos, being upset or bullied by images, clips, messages or chat or experiencing peer pressure to use their phones in class.
They also ask about reasons why pupils might need to access their phones during the school day, for example to access bus timetables, access money or bank cards or for medical alerts such as diabetes.
And they ask for views on whether there should be restrictions on mobile phones in schools, what positives might come from it and whether any ban should also apply to smartwatches.
The consultation is open until March 2.