My event to discuss smartphones in schools

AS many Chronicle readers will know, I have often spoken in my column about my growing concerns on the impact of smartphones on children’s wellbeing, learning and mental health.

- Laura Trott

I regularly see children on their way to school glued to their screens rather than chatting with friends, and teachers regularly talk about the disruption they cause children - and I know from my emails that many of you have also noticed the same troubling pattern. My local parent survey run at the end of last year found that 65% said their children spend too much time on social media, and 74% felt smartphones make bullying worse in schools. This is deeply concerning and why I’ve been pushing nationally in the House of Commons for a ban on smartphones in schools for under-16s, and working locally with schools to encourage bans.