Council urges govt to make primary schools smartphone free
It follows a West Sussex online harms seminar organised by the council’s children, young people and learning and public health directorates
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West Sussex County Council has called on the government to make all primary schools smartphone free, citing concerns about the impact of mobile phones and social media on children’s wellbeing and learning.
The authority’s cabinet members for children, young people and learning and for public health and wellbeing has written to the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson MP, after councillors backed a notice of motion at a full council meeting on Friday 12 December.
The motion was proposed by councillor John Dabell and follows discussions at a council meeting in March, when members raised concerns about the influence of harmful online content and the need for positive role models for young people.
It also follows a West Sussex online harms seminar organised by the council’s children, young people and learning and public health directorates. The event brought together primary and secondary school teachers, public health professionals, police, digital safety experts and members of the West Sussex Youth Cabinet to discuss online and digital risks facing school-aged children.
Current government guidance expects schools to prohibit the use of mobile phones and other smart technology during the school day, including lessons, breaktimes and lunchtimes. The guidance is intended to reduce distraction and disruption and to support a calm and safe learning environment.
The motion noted that the children’s minister, Josh MacAllister MP, introduced a private member’s bill in October 2024, known as the Safer Phones Bill. The proposed legislation initially sought to make schools phone-free during the school day, raise the age of internet adulthood from 13 to 16, and strengthen Ofcom’s powers to protect children from addictive apps.
However, the provision on banning phones in schools was removed during the bill’s passage. Despite cross-party backing and support from education and children’s organisations, the bill was withdrawn on 10 September.
Following the vote, councillor Jacquie Russell, cabinet member for children, young people and learning, and councillor Bob Lanzer, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, agreed to write to the education secretary urging the government to reconsider its position and to require all primary school settings to be smartphone free.
