A mother has expressed her concerns after her 11-year-old daughter came home from school in tears due to not having a smartphone to use in lessons. The mother, Celeste Lewis, admitted feeling guilty as her daughter, Ava, was encouraged by her school, Whitchurch High in Cardiff, to use her smartphone during lessons to look up locations on Google Earth. In Wales, unlike in England, there is no guidance prohibiting smartphones in classrooms.
Ms Lewis acknowledged feeling “pressure” from parents to buy smartphones for her daughter. However, she was concerned about potential impacts on Ava’s mental health and wellbeing, and also felt smartphones were not necessary for school. Ms Lewis was surprised when Ava came home crying within the first two weeks of starting at high school. The school was “really helpful, really kind” and offered her a laptop for homework.
Whitchurch High School stated that they had an “acceptable use” policy for mobile phones which was regularly reviewed. The school educates students on the policy, while issues are discussed through staff and student groups. The high school’s rules for technology devices were created to ensure appropriate usage.
Wales allows schools to choose their own policies regarding mobile phones in classrooms, which means that neighbouring schools can differ in their rules. Some schools have decided to ban smartphones entirely. Cardiff West Community High School, a neighbouring school to Whitchurch High, has implemented a ban, which has led to a 75% reduction in in-school fighting and exclusions due to rule breaking. Within weeks, the school noticed a significant increase in attendance, punctuality, and better engagement among students during classes
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