红桃影视

The government must introduce a statutory ban on mobile phones in schools if its current crackdown on the devices proves ineffective, MPs have said.

They made the recommendation in a new report published this morning following an inquiry into the impact of screen time on children鈥檚 outcomes and wellbeing.

Former schools minister Robin Walker, who chairs the committee, warned that 鈥渨ithout urgent action, more children will be put in harm鈥檚 way鈥�.

Here are the report鈥檚 key findings鈥�

1. Minimise screen time on phones

The committee heard 鈥渟trong evidence that smartphones and computers disrupt pupils鈥� learning both at home and in the classroom鈥�.

It can take 鈥渦p to 20 minutes鈥� for youngsters to refocus after 鈥渂rowsing the internet or noticing a notification鈥� on their mobile.

The harms of screen time and social media use “significantly outweigh the benefits for young children, whereas limited use of screens and genuinely educational uses of digital technology can have benefits for older children鈥�, the report said.

鈥淕overnment needs to do more across departments to protect them from addiction, online harms and the mental health impacts of extensive use of devices.鈥�

2. 鈥楤an鈥� on phones could go further

The committee welcomed the government鈥檚 non-statutory guidance, released in February, which stated schools should 鈥渄evelop a mobile phone policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones and other smart technology鈥� throughout the day.

However, it heard mixed evidence on how well this will be taken up. It recommended formal monitoring and evaluation to be undertaken, with the results published and shared with leaders.鈥� 

If they show the guidance has been 鈥渋neffective in 12 months, the government must move swiftly to introduce a statutory ban鈥�.

鈥淸It] must also ensure parents are not prevented from being able to contact their children during their commute to school. The [current] guidance should be changed by July to prevent schools from insisting mobile phones are left at home.鈥�

Committee members also believe the next government should work with Ofcom to consult on additional measures around mobiles. These include a total ban on smartphones for under-16s.

3. ‘Kitemarking scheme’ for education apps

The committee said many schools 鈥渆ncourage the use of educational apps to support learning and engage pupils鈥� in subjects like maths, despite there being a 鈥減oor evidence base鈥� on which ones are best.

Official guidance should be produced 鈥渨ithin a year鈥� for parents and schools on the efficacy of such websites and apps.

Along with this, MPs want ministers to support a 鈥渒itemarking scheme鈥� for these online resources in the first 12 months of the new Parliament.

They should also encourage tech firms 鈥渢o introduce standards for the use of educational labels and to remove apps which do not offer educational benefit鈥�.

4. Improve digital literacy curriculum

The government has been told to 鈥渆mbed additional core content on online safety鈥� into ICT training and the early career framework for all teachers.

The committee said PSHE, which covers digital literacy among other things, cannot be adequately evaluated solely within Ofsted’s current personal development metric.

Instead, the subject should be checked using thematic reviews, like other core curriculum topics.

5. Concerns over ‘data and privacy’

The UK鈥檚 edtech sector is the largest in Europe, according to the study. Despite acknowledging it can provide 鈥渟ome benefits鈥�, the committee is 鈥渃oncerned about the implications of edtech and Al on children’s data and privacy鈥�.

The next government should “produce a risk assessment on the use of edtech and Al in schools as soon as possible, and particularly on the extent to which it poses a risk to the security of children’s data.

鈥淭he safety and reliability of edtech should also be assessed by Ofcom both [as] it is introduced to schools, and periodically after it is brought into schools.”

Schools have also been told to regularly update and renew laptops and tablets “to keep them secure for longer”, as “edtech has more malware than all other sectors combined”.

In England, the digital age of consent, which is when a youngster can give websites the go-ahead to process their data, is 13. The report added the next government should consult on 鈥渨hether it should be raised鈥� and 鈥渞ecommend 16 as a more appropriate鈥� threshold. 

6. Guidance for parents

The committee urged government to outline how parents can 鈥渂est manage and understand the impact of screen time鈥� on their children.

It wants the advice to state that youngsters 鈥渟hould not be able to access screens after they have gone to bed and should incorporate physical activity into their day鈥�.

The guidance 鈥渟hould also focus on the ways in which parents can monitor use of devices, the uses of parental controls and how to deal with problematic screen use including when to seek help鈥�.