East Lothian approves school mobile phone restrictions

East Lothian Council has approved a policy to restrict mobile phone use in all its schools, a move that aligns with a broader Scottish Government consultation on potential national legislation. The council voted unanimously on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, to implement what it terms "mobile free learning" across the county starting in October.

Under the new rules, secondary school students will be required to place their phones in secure pouches during lessons. For primary schools, pupils in the earliest years (P1 to P3) will be banned from bringing phones to school entirely, while older primary students (P4 to P7) must store their devices in lock boxes during class time. The policy was developed following extensive consultation with pupils, parents, and staff, and a pilot program at Dunbar Grammar School.

Nicola McDowell, the head of education, explained to the council that a complete ban for all primary pupils was rejected because many older children use phones for travel and after-school activities. Surveys indicated that about 45% of older primary pupils own a phone, with roughly half bringing it to school daily. In secondary schools, 98% of pupils own phones, though over 80%...