smartphones | Schools Week

‘Transformational’: Smartphone-free schools reveal impact of bans

Leaders who banned mobile phones saw suspensions drop, fewer safeguarding incidents and happier staff

Mixed signals: evidence for mobile phone bans contested

Evidence cited by Nick Gibb to support mobile phone bans in schools is from an eight-year-old study that some academics have criticised for showing “insignificant” impact on test scores. The schools minister told MPs this week “there is evidence that those schools that do restrict the use of smartphones in schools…are seeing higher test scores […]

DfE to test and ‘quality-mark’ education apps

The Department for Education plans to assess and “quality-mark” smartphone and tablet education apps for younger pupils. Officials will also consider extending the assessment to apps for older children if the process is a success. But experts in educational technology say that the scheme’s success will hinge on whether teachers with experience of learning with […]