Agenda item - Smartphone Free Schools for Brighton & Hove

1)     That the petition is noted.

55.1    The Mayor invited Natalie Dean to join the meeting and present the petition for debate titled ‘Smartphone Free Schools for Brighton & Hove’ which had received 1450 signatures at the time the agenda was published. Due to the similar subject matter of a Deputation these were taken together.

55.2    The Mayor invited Councillor Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Youth Services & for Ending Violence Against Women & Girlsto reply:

55.3    Councillor Daniel replied:

Thank you for your petition and deputation today. I think your campaign has been really timely and inspiring as the wider media and public start to consider the questions on what boundaries should be put around teens and digital tools. I was keen that you came to Full Council so that all our parties could have their say and engage with this campaign.

I agree with Peter Kyle MP that the really critical issue is that technology companies take responsibility for, as well as profit from, the tools that they make available. Research with young people highlights that there is positive sides to mobile phones and social medias in terms of friendship connection, ways to cope and manage moods along with the negatives you have outlined.

We already work with schools on lessons to support better education around both social media and mobile phones and I will organise a round table with school leaders and SENCOs, parents and young people in 2025 and Peter Kyle will join that if he is available.  

I am conscious that whatever position we land on we have to bear in mind more disadvantaged families and the fact that too many pupils only can do access on their mobile phones, so we can’t move forward in a way that compounds that disadvantage.  

 Additionally, I’d want to know that there would be exemptions for carers and disabled children, and I want to support school leaders who currently do enable those children access to their phones whilst by and large banning phones from the school day.  

I will also be attending your event on the 23^rd January and I’m really looking forward to learning more. Thanks so much for this, I really appreciate it.

55.4    Councillors Pickett, Hogan and Earthey spoke on the matter.

55.5    The Mayor put the recommendations to the vote.

55.6    Resolved -

1)          That the petition is noted.