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<\/a><\/p>\nParents and carers at Portobello High School have said they are optimistic about a new pilot scheme that keeps students off mobile phones during the school day.<\/p>\n
The school is the first in Scotland to have pupils lock their phones in magnetic pouches for the duration of the school day.<\/p>\n
Edinburgh Council hopes that it will see students focus more on their schoolwork, avoiding the distractions phones can cause in the classroom.<\/p>\n
David Fraser, the parent of a S4 pupil at the school, says he has no issue with trying it out \u2013 but wants to see how well it works before passing judgement.<\/p>\n
The 51-year-old Scottish Government worker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: \u201cI\u2019m of the opinion that better behaviour comes from better parents and kids. There\u2019s a lot of common sense that can be applied to this stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cI personally have no issue with trying this. I\u2019d hate to be a teacher these days, and anything we can do to help teachers, help quiet the classroom down is good.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s disruptive kids and it\u2019s caused by phones and all, go for it. Let\u2019s try it. We\u2019ll give it a bash.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a firm believer that it needs to be given a trial, at least to see if it works or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not supportive of it, I\u2019m not non supportive of it. I\u2019ll see what the proof in the pudding is first before we make any decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took the kids by surprise, it took all of us by surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
The magnetic pouches were distributed to families the week before the bank holiday weekend, with all pupils carrying mobiles required to use them.<\/p>\n
Parents could make a voluntary payment towards the scheme, but the pouches were distributed to families whether they contributed financially towards it or not.<\/p>\n
Fraser said his daughter, who is in S3, said some students were having trouble using the pouches, which he compared to the magnetic locks on alcohol bottles in supermarkets.<\/p>\n
Another parent, Sirin, said she was supportive of the scheme.<\/p>\n
The mother of an S4 pupil said: \u201cI think it\u2019s a good idea. It\u2019ll help them focus, it\u2019ll help them learn, be more social.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey won\u2019t be tapping away at their phones all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, some parents and carers hope that the scheme can help reduce some other harms from social media.<\/p>\n
Jackie, the grandmother of an S3 pupil, said: \u201cIt\u2019ll take the kids a while to get used to it, but once they\u2019re used to it it\u2019ll be good.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s too much bullying on social media with the kids nowadays. In the context of everything that\u2019s going on, they\u2019re all snapchatting one another. That\u2019ll stop that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019ll take a while to kick in with the kids, but I think it\u2019ll work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Queensferry High School will join Portobello\u00a0in introducing the pouches on Wednesday, 14 May.<\/p>\n
The scheme will run as a trial for two years, with officials watching feedback from parents and pupils and monitoring attendance figures and other data points to understand its impact.<\/p>\n
Labour councillor Joan Griffiths, convener of the Education, Children and Families committee, said: \u201cI\u2019m pleased to see Edinburgh schools leading the way in introducing a mobile-phone free school environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cMobile phones in classroom settings are increasingly competing with the teachers for learners\u2019 attention and limiting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive thing for our young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that schools across Edinburgh, and indeed the country, are exploring ways to manage mobile phone use, including restricting phone use during the school day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new pouches provide an innovative way for our young people to have distance from their devices while having the reassurance that they are still in their possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that this new policy will increase focus on learning, reduce classroom distractions and help improve wellbeing.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n
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