Smartphone use in schools to be focus of survey

Parents, teachers and students are to be surveyed for their views on smartphone use in Guernsey schools.

Education, Sport and Culture President Paul Montague told deputies the survey would help inform States policies and it would be conducted by the University of West of England from next month.

He told the States his committee wanted island schools to be "smartphone-free".

"The issue of smartphone usage on children and young people continues to raise international, national and local concern," he said.

Montague referenced a survey of secondary and special school teachers last October which found there was "no educational need for smartphones in schools and our current policies reflect this".

He said any future policy development had to be informed by evidence and this new survey would inform future policy.

Pressure has grown on Montague's committee to do more about access to smartphones at schools.

Last month the States approved work to create a new strategy for young people, which would look at smartphone use and technology, following a proposal from deputy Sally Rochester.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.