The City of Edinburgh Council has opened a consultation on banning mobile phones in secondary schools.
The Education, Children and Families Committee is asking pupils, parents, carers, and staff to share their views via an online survey.
This follows pilot schemes using lockable pouches at Portobello and Queensferry High Schools from May 2025.
Councillor James Dalgleish has said these pilots have been “broadly successful” and called wider measures “a positive step forward” to be introduced “as soon as is practical.”
The debates surrounding a ban stem from a 2022 study, which found that a third of Scottish pupils admitted to being distracted by phones in almost every lesson.
The ban also aims to reduce exposure to explicit content, as well as tackle bullying and harassment, addressing concerns raised by parents.
However, some argue that phones could be beneficial, such as for pupils with caring responsibilities or medical needs.
The estimated cost of such measures is also of concern, ranging between £380,000 to £495,000.
Along with the consultation, the committee is conducting an Integrated Impact Assessment to address these issues.
While many students at the University of Edinburgh support the ban, one student was sceptical, stating: “Kids are going to have to learn at some point how best to use mobile phones.”
They continued: “The focus should be on regulating social media better to make it safer.”
Image by Isobel Barker for The Student.