Restricting mobile phones in Scotland's schools

Overview

In 2024, the Scottish Government published guidance to support schools to manage the use of mobile phones in schools. This was updated in June 2026, to further encourage education authorities and school leaders to limit the personal use of mobile phones in their schools. This could include a full ban in schools during the school day.  

The guidance is non-statutory. This means that education authorities and schools must consider it but can decide how to apply the guidance. This means that some schools may have full bans in place while other schools may have more limited or no restrictions. Therefore, pupils’ experiences depend on which school they attend.  

The Scottish Government has said it will make a law to restrict personal use of mobile phones in all of Scotland’s schools. This consultation is to inform the development of the legislation. Education authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of education in Scotland and are responsible for implementing restrictions in their schools.  

This consultation seeks views and opinions on: 

  • The extent and scope of restrictions on mobile phones in schools

  • The impact of restricting use of mobile phones in schools

  • What exemptions should apply to restrictions on mobile phones in schools  

The consultation uses the term ‘mobile phones’ to mean personal mobile phones belonging to pupils.  

Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.

What is not within the scope of this consultation 

This consultation applies only to the personal use of mobile phones in schools. It is to inform the development of future legislation, and so only asks questions related to this topic. The use of mobile phones by children and young people in all other contexts are outwith the scope of this consultation, for example:  

  • The use of mobile phones while outside the school campus

  • The use of social media while at home

  • The use of mobile phones or other digital devices with the express purpose of supporting learning  

We are not seeking views on the UK Government’s plans to ban social media platforms for under-16s, to introduce a social media curfew for 16-and-17-year-olds, and to introduce new age assurance measures.   

If a consultation response includes matters that fall outside the scope, those elements will not be analysed as part of the consultation. 

Consultation questions preview

The consultation questions are included here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.

  1. The Scottish Government has committed to restricting the use of mobile phones in schools.  To what extent do you agree with the following options?

  2. What is your knowledge of how phones are being used in schools at the moment?  

  3. Think about the different things young people might use their phone for in school. If restrictions on mobile phones in schools were introduced, what do you think the positive impacts might be?    

  4. Thinking again about the different things young people might use their phone for in school, if restrictions on mobile phones in schools were introduced, what do you think the negative impacts might be? 

  5. To what extent do you agree with the following potential exceptions to restrictions on mobile phones in schools?

  6. Legislation on restricting the use of mobile phones in schools will reduce parents’ direct contact with their children during the school day. Schools which have introduced restrictions on mobile phones currently ask parents to contact the school office if they require to communicate with their child. Is there anything about this approach that you would like to comment on?  

  7. Do you agree that national restrictions on the use of mobile phones should apply to independent and grant-aided schools in addition to schools run by education authorities?  

  8. Should restrictions on mobile phones also apply to wearable digital devices, for example smartwatches which have notifications enabled?  

  9. Which other issues you would like us to be aware of? 

  10. Are you a (child or young person, parent or carer, member of school staff, other). 

Useful information about responding to this consultation

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

All relevant submitted responses will be analysed. This may be carried out by third party organisations who Scottish Government, its executive agencies or non-ministerial offices, contract to do this work. Such data sharing will be governed by appropriate contractual arrangements to keep your data secure.

An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us.

You can also join our consultation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).

Why your views matter

Responses to this consultation will help to inform the development of legislation on restricting mobile phones in Scottish schools.

This consultation is open to anyone with an interest in restrictions on the personal use of mobile phones in schools. We are especially keen to hear from:  

  • Pupils 

  • Parents and carers 

  • Teachers and other school staff  

  • Education authorities and education authority schools  

  • Independent and grant-aided schools

Give us your views

Begin consultation

Closes 17 Nov 2026

Opened 25 Aug 2026

Contact

relationshipsandbehaviourinschools@gov.scot

Interests

  • Education
  • Main hub