School smartphones petition to be put to council

Campaigners calling for smartphone-free schools are set to put their case to councillors.

Almost 2,500 people signed a petition asking Brighton and Hove City Council to implement a smartphone-free policy in its schools.

The petition is scheduled for debate at the full council meeting on Thursday.

Organiser Natalie Dean said the council "can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and providing evidence-based guidance".

The petition said: "We propose that the council encourages schools to adopt guidelines recommending that parents delay providing smartphones to their children until they are older.

"We also call for the use of basic mobile phones or smartwatches that allow parents to stay in contact with their children without exposing them to the risks associated with smartphones."

A deputation of eight parents, under the banner of the Smartphone-Free Childhood campaign, are due to address the council, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The petition cites St Albans which, along with some London schools, has a policy that any phone used during the school day is confiscated, being returned after up to a week or when collected by a parent.

In Hove, Cardinal Newman Catholic School operates a scheme where pupils' phones are sealed with a magnetic lock during the school day and released when pupils leave school.

The campaign group is already working with Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School where it is holding an event in January.

A spokesperson for the city council said in June: "We take the wellbeing of young people very seriously and earlier this year agreed £200,000 in funding for a new programme providing in-school mental health support to young people."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.