Phone Free Update and Information Evening

Friday 5th June 2026

Study Leave increased our capacity to work intensively on our Phone Free School project.  In particular in relation to the preparation for implementation.  There has been lots of discussion and lots of thinking on the matter over the last few weeks and months.   We have concluded that, as a school,  we need to alter our pace of change.  I communicated this to our Parent Council at our recent meeting and with staff this morning.  We’ll hold a series of Assemblies with students next week,  including with the P7s who’ll be on their transition visit, to explain things to them. 

Our intention is that in session 2026/27 we implement a consistent phone free classroom environment with identified phone free zones, .i.e., corridors and stairwells.  Our purpose is to support learning and a phone free classroom will, we believe, reduce distraction and support engagement in learning.  Our identified phone free zones will support our health and safety responsibilities.  We do anticipate further consultation, thinking and discussion on a phone free school, looking at 2027/28 as the earliest implementation.

The change from our initial thinking has resulted from the following identified issues,

• The Consultation Outcome Report showed clear student resentment/opposition.  As a student centred, Gold Rights Respecting School we need to listen and respond.
• Operational concerns regarding our capacity to ‘enforce’ implementation in all areas of the school, all at once.   We’d sooner try and do fewer things well rather than everything unsustainably.
• DHTs are now teaching from this week and this further reduces our capacity in relation to ‘enforce’ a phone free school concept.
• Expected Scottish Government action on the issue, which has now transpired in their First 100 Days statement.  The government are using ‘phone free classroom’ terminology and plan to legislate accordingly.  We are aligning with that and will watch with interest how things develop.   

We will now work at pace to implement and share guidance with all.   This process is well underway.  Our Information Evening for parents/carers is scheduled for Thursday 11th June.  That evening begins at 6.30pm and is now,  at the request of the Parent Council, following a poll of parents, now on-line.  Parents/carers of current students and P7 pupils will be sent the Teams link via email on Thursday morning.

At the Information Evening we plan to

1. Share the rationale for our decision-making and explain what things will ‘look like’ in practice
2. Consult and gather information from parents/carers so we can co-construct Expectations for Parents/Carers
3. Open up the meeting to a Q&A on our plans;  questions can be sent in advance via email;  lasswade_hs@midlothian.gov.uk

 

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