I know you like text. So here’s a letter.

This is what I wrote to the Editor of The Times (20 February 2024) on the sudden appearance of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on banning mobile phones in schools (19 February 2024).

In our full seven day boarding school community at Shrewsbury, we require mobile phones to be “off and away” during the school day. We want our pupils to be fully present, with their eyes up. There is a special value in learning and living together, fully connected, in real time. That’s why we carefully control and limit the use of mobiles.

Pupils have limited access in specified areas at certain times of the day. Younger pupils hand their phones in overnight to ensure a good night’s sleep. Older pupils are increasingly trusted to manage the use of their devices, as they will need to in the adult world.

Whether in the hands of a child or an adult, these devices are designed with an inbuilt siren song. We all know the seductive power of these sleek addiction machines. We all know they can lead us into time-warps and labyrinths. Also, to enlightenment and connection.

If we use these devices intelligently, we can harness their astonishing power to gather and process information. We should not fear the deliberate and mindful use of mobile devices in our teaching and learning and beyond: for AI in the classroom; for out of lesson consolidation; for research and extension work; for staying in touch; for buying bus fares and calling home. In these ways, and many more besides, mobiles are good.

Equally, we need to do all we can to protect our children. We have a duty to educate them on how to filter and read influences. And we need more effective measures to safeguard children from exposure to harmful content.

Banning mobiles may work in some settings: such measures can provide temporary sanctuary, perhaps a sense of relief. But our youngsters will have to emerge from any exclusion zones we create. Banning alone does little to educate on sensible use. Nor does it help with what happens in holidays or outside the control of the formal school day. Perhaps, then, a better approach is to limit, direct, control and educate? And put resources into more effective cyber-protection.

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The adults may think they have the answers. But, have we asked the children? Have we empowered the young to come up with solutions?

In a few weeks’ time, senior students at Shrewsbury will deliver a whole school session on how to make mindful, safer use of mobiles. We can certainly make policy and enforce controls. But, we will have an even greater chance of managing mobiles successfully in schools (and beyond) if we listen to the pupils themselves and channel the power of positive peer influence.

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So, dear mobile. It turns out that you’re not banned after all. Not here anyway; and not all of the time. We are individually and collectively responsible for you. While you have many great qualities, you do need to be kept under control.

Like a dog-walker entering a field of sheep, we’ll be keeping you on a short lead. We cannot allow you to run wild or send us astray. We cannot let you lead us into the company of wolves.

Dear Mobile, we must do all we can to be the master of you – not you of us.

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Mobile phones in schools – February 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)