7.
A Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Eagle, seconded by Councillor Feaver in the following terms:-
There are various views on the use of mobile phones in schools, a subject which has been debated widely throughout the UK and in Europe. Whilst it is clear we now live in a digital age where technology will be a key part of most occupations now and in the future, there is a growing discussion over whether the use of mobile phones in schools is conducive to positive education or not. We believe Moray should be having a discussion around the use of mobile phones in schools and in order to do that we require the evidence both for and against.
With this in mind Council is asked to –
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Note that there are a wide range of views on the use of personal mobile phones in school.
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Agree that education officers will compile a report for the next Children’s Committee meeting which will give the positives and negatives of mobile phone use in school and which gives members of the committee the option to decide whether to ban the use of mobile phones in schools across Moray.
In response, Councillor Warren confirmed that the Committee had considered a similar request from Councillor Eagle on 25 May 2019 and it was agreed that a report would be brought to a future Committee on this subject and therefore this notice of motion does not require determination. However, Councillor Warren was aware that this action was still outstanding and understood that workload pressures within the service have prevented progress.
Councillor Warren then invited the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisation Development) to update the Committee on progress with the report.
The Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) suggested that the issue of mobile phone use is considered in the wider context of other digital technology and priorities within schools and how the Council develops it. In terms of the use of digital technology, that will be a key consideration as work within the Improvement and Modernisation plan progresses in relation to the innovative learning experiences because that includes the digital solutions that would be required to deliver the curriculum in a different way.
She further added that the Council is going to secure additional funding through the Northern Alliance in the form of appointing a Depute Head Teacher to lead on digital work which will mean that the Council can work collaboratively with other authorities in the Northern Alliance and will have the scope to move this whole project forward.
She concluded that a report back to this Committee will be presented within the next 6 months. The Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) suggested that although this did not address the notice of motion specifically, her suggestion was to look at the digital technology as a whole and include the use of mobile phones within that piece of work.
Councillor Warren sought confirmation from the Committee that they were happy to accept the recommendation from the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development).
In response, Councillor Eagle expressed his disappointment that neither Councillor Warren nor any officers had taken to opportunity to speak to him prior to the meeting and was effectively throwing out his motion and questioned whether this action was procedurally correct by not giving him the opportunity to speak to his notice of motion.
He further expressed his frustration that the request had initially been asked in May 2019, 9 committees have taken place since then and still the report is outstanding.
In response the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) confirmed that the Chair had not thrown the motion out, rather, the Chair had confirmed that the decision had already been taken by the Committee and unless the Committee are minded to change that position then the notice of motion does not require to be debated again.
Councillor Eagle added that the initial request had been for a paper to come back to the next meeting of the Committee and that had not happened and no update had been received, so he felt that he was within his right to submit the notice of motion to request the report again. He further added that he is pleased that this piece of work is now moving forward but urged for a guarantee that a report will come back as the subject needs to be debated in the Chamber.
The Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) confirmed that the Committee had already determined that this piece of work had to be done but acknowledged that the Service need to provide answers as to why the piece of work has not been completed but that what has been suggested that the use of mobile phones in schools is included in a wider piece of work and not best to debate in isolation.
Councillor Ross added that he felt the notice in motion in front of the Committee should be debated.
In response Councillor Warren felt that the Committee had determined the issue before and proposed accepting the Officers response for a report to come back to Committee within 6 months, this was seconded by Councillor Morrison.
Councillor Feaver asked if Legal advice could be sought on the issue before moving forward.
The Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) sought clarification on the legal point needing clarified.
Councillor Eagle requested a short adjournment to obtain legal advice on the proposed way forward.
On the resumption of the meeting Councillor Eagle sought clarification from the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) that the context of of his notice of motion will be included in the report then he would be happy to go with the amended motion that had been proposed.
In response, the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) gave assurance that the context of Councillor Eagle’s notice of motion will be included in the report to Committee within 6 months.
The secondary school representative expressed a concern about the potential to ban mobile phones from school as this was not in the original notice of motion and sought clarification on the point.
In response, Councillor Eagle said that he was not looking for his specific wording to be included in the report, more for the topic of mobile phones to be debated in the wider context of the piece of work explained by the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) and not asking for specific actions.
Councillor Alexander sought clarification on whether the report will include consultation with parents.
In response, the Depute Chief Executive (Education, Communities and Organisational Development) advised that the scope of the work is currently being worked out and will be reported to the Transforming Learning Board so a detailed plan is not yet available but will be worked on over the coming weeks.
As there was no one otherwise minded the Committee agreed that the issue of mobile phones is considered alongside other digital technology and priorities. As a key consideration in the planned work under the Council’s Improvement and Modernisation Programme on an innovative learning experience which includes using digital solutions to deliver the curriculum and a report will come back to this Committee within 6 months.