What assessment it has made of the effectiveness of secure mobile phone pouches in schools, including the extent to which pupils are able t…

Our refreshed national guidance on mobile phones in schools, published in June, makes clear that headteachers and local authorities can take the steps that they consider appropriate to respond to the disruption caused by mobile phones, and supports schools to put in place approaches that best meet the needs of their pupils and communities.Decisions on whether to introduce measures such as lockable pouches remain a matter for individual schools and local authorities. Where schools have opted to introduce pouches, there is limited evidence from recent trials in Edinburgh and in Northern Ireland that some pupils have been able to circumvent the locking mechanisms on pouches or place alternative devices in pouches in order to retain access. This would be a matter for schools to respond to using their relationships and behaviour policy. The use of lockable pouches is one option that can be considered by schools and local authorities as part of their wider engagement and assessment work.The Scottish Government have committed to introducing legislation to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools and have published a consultation to gather views on proposed restrictions. The consultation will close on 17 November and the outcomes from the consultation will inform the development of our legislation.