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Two fathers, Will Orr-Ewing and Pete Montgomery, are pursuing a legal challenge against the government’s guidance on smartphones in schools. They have sent a letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, expressing their intent to seek a judicial review. The fathers argue that the current guidance, which allows individual headteachers to determine smartphone usage policies, is both unlawful and unsafe for children. They believe that a complete ban on smartphones in schools is the safest approach for children, citing concerns about exposure to harmful content and cyberbullying.
Operating under the name Generation Alpha CIC, the fathers are pushing for stricter measures regarding smartphone use in educational settings. Mr. Orr-Ewing emphasized the risks associated with children using smartphones, highlighting instances of inappropriate content consumption, cyberbullying, and predatory behavior. He shared anecdotes of alarming incidents, such as students being recorded without consent and exposed to explicit material. The fathers propose limiting children to basic “brick phones” for essential communication with parents, advocating for a ban on smartphones within school premises.
In response to the fathers’ challenge, the Department for Education (DfE) reiterated that schools already possess the authority to prohibit smartphones. The DfE mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance protections for children online through the Online Safety Act. Recent government guidance on school safety acknowledged issues like bullying, indecent image sharing, and exposure to harmful content, urging schools to carefully manage these challenges. The DfE has a two-week window to formalize its response to the fathers’ letter before potential judicial review proceedings can commence.
Mr. Montgomery revealed troubling statistics obtained through Freedom of Information requests, indicating a significant number of safeguarding incidents involving smartphones and social media in schools. He emphasized the potential benefits of a statutory ban on smartphones, easing concerns for both school leaders and parents. While the DfE reaffirmed its support for schools in implementing phone bans, it also acknowledged the broader concerns surrounding children’s online experiences. The impending response deadline from the DfE marks a critical juncture in the fathers’ legal pursuit to address smartphone usage in educational environments
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