The City of Edinburgh Council have produced new guidance so each school can draw up their own policy on mobile phone usage. The guidance paper, which is being launched on 11:30 am on April 25 at Liberton High School, Gilmerton Road, has been created in consultation with staff, pupils and parents.
Most school children nowadays have their own mobile phones and while this can be useful for personal safety it has also spurred a new type of bullying and abuse.
The guidance aims to help schools respond to problems such as mobiles ringing in class or teachers or pupils receiving inappropriate texts. Schools can then use this guidance to develop their own policy which can be implemented with confidence.
The new guidance suggests that each school should decide where and when mobile phones can be switched on and if they are being used inappropriately clear disciplinary actions should be drawn up to deal with it.
This guidance is in response to an announcement by the Minister for Education last year. She suggested ever school should have a clear policy on the use of mobile phones and digital technology. The guidance paper also contains useful links to resources and organisations which can give further information to staff and pupils on matters concerning mobile phone usage.
Cllr Marilyne MacLaren, Convener for Education, Children and Families said:
“I am very pleased that this guidance is now available for our schools. The rapid development of new technology has brought disadvantages as well as advantages, for instance bullying using mobile phones or digital technology can be extremely distressing for children and young people. Anything which helps decrease this misuse is to be warmly welcomed.”
There will be an opportunity for photographs and interviews with Cllr MacLaren plus teachers and pupils involved in drawing up the guidance paper.
Media contact: Jennifer Wood, Media and Communications Officer, tel: 0131 553 8379, e.mail:jennifer.wood@edinburgh.gov.uk, 0131 553 8379
