At last! Mobile phones to be banned from schools amid chaos in classrooms

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 20:37, 2 June 2026 | Updated: 20:37, 2 June 2026 Plans for a nationwide crackdown on mobile phones in classrooms have been announced by the education secretary – as she admitted the SNP’s current patchwork approach is ‘letting pupils down’. Màiri McAllan criticised the ‘variability’ seen under her predecessor Jenny Gilruth, now the deputy First Minister. Ms Gilruth had insisted head teachers were best placed to decide on local bans, telling MSPs in October: ‘It’s not for me sitting in an office in Edinburgh to dictate to Scotland’s teachers.’ But Ms McAllan trashed that position, telling Holyrood: ‘There is too much variability. One of the problems with the current situation, and why we need to move to change the law, is because some schools have adopted it, others haven’t, and that variability across the country will be letting some pupils down, so we can’t have that, and we have to correct it.’ She added later: ‘I think that [variabiliy] is probably the main thing that we could not tolerate as a parliament and as a society – the idea that some pupils in our schools would be learning free from the influence of smartphones, whilst others would not.’ The U-turn came as Ms McAllan confirmed a national ban instead of Scotland’s 1,974 state primaries and 359 secondaries setting their own policy. When Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, introduced a partial ban on mobiles in 2024, pupils were not allowed to use them in classrooms or corridors. Any phone improperly used in class was locked in a teacher-controlled box for the rest of the lesson. A student places a mobile phone in a box before the start of a lesson at Stonelaw High School Màiri McAllan criticised the ‘variability’ seen under her predecessor Jenny Gilruth  But students were permitted to use devices at breaks and lunchtime. Ms McAllan said mobile phones were linked to a ‘spectrum of harm’ from ‘loss of concentration’ and time-wasting to ‘violent, misogynistic and radicalising content, incitement to self-harm, extreme bullying and in some cases, grooming’. There was also a ‘higher risk of depression, anxiety, poor sleep and poor health in adolescence that arises from smartphone use’. She said there would be a consultation before legislation, with pupil views ‘front and centre in the decisions we take’. The Scottish Tories said parents, teachers and pupils would feel ‘frustrated’ at more delay. Ms McAllan said: ‘We need to recognise the negative impact of mobile phones and screen time and protect our children and young people. ‘That is why, now is the time for phone-free learning environments. At Stonelaw, any phone improperly used in class was locked in a teacher-controlled box for the rest of the lesson ‘We have listened carefully to the calls from parents, carers and teachers to ensure greater consistency across the country to support children’s learning and development.’ She said the consultation would help address ‘complex issues’, such as exemptions for pupils using phones to monitor medical conditions and young carers contacting home. In the meantime, new guidance will be issued this month ‘to support and encourage more schools to introduce restrictions ahead of a law change’. Tory education spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: ‘This damp squib of a statement is another shameful example of the SNP kicking the can down the road. ‘Until mobile phones are completely banned in schools, they will continue to play a major role in creating an unsafe environment for pupils and staff. ‘Yet instead of taking action, the SNP have reached for their favourite comfort blanket and will set up another pointless talking shop. ‘What more evidence do they possibly need to get on with implementing a ban immediately?’ Asked by Labour MSP Katherine Sangster about timing, Ms McAllan said the consultation would open within 100 days, but gave no date on the change in the law. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.