A Greenock Union boss says that the 'appropriate use' of mobile phones is common practice in Inverclyde.

Paula McEwan, Inverclyde EIS Local Association Secretary and former national ex-president, was commenting on the new guidance from the Scottish Government of allowing headteachers to decide whether to ban mobile phones in schools.

She said in her own experience as a teacher at St Andrew's in Greenock that the view was phones should be 'off and away' usually in bags.

Ms McEwan said: "As a union we have noted the guidance. It would appear as a refresh of a policy that was already made before mobile phones became ubiquitous.

"A policy for appropriate use such as acceptable educational use."

The guidance basically leaves it up to the individual school to decide whether to ban mobile phones - a Scotland-wide ban is not deemed to be appropriate or feasible by the government.

Ms McEwan agrees with this saying: "I don't know how much a total ban would be enforceable especially at lunch and break times."

She added she hoped that staff and students would be consulted on any decision made and that their voice is heard.

Ms McEwan, who had a year's sabbatical from her teaching job to take up the president's job last year, she said: "I far as I am aware the policy we had 'was off and away', we did have a collection point to put it away safely or on silent.

"I think national guidance gives more credence to local policies and rubber stamps what is already in place." 

Paula says the use of mobile phones in the classroom can be very disruptive to children's learning and also teachers' attention.

She said: "In the most extreme circumstances it can cause harm to staff and pupils including inappropriate posts on socials media.

"Staring at a phone affects relationships between pupils and staff and also social interaction with peers.

"We have members who are head teachers and if they have already got a policy, I think the national guidance adds credence to this.

"I do feel that all stakeholders parents and pupils groups should be part of this decision-making process."

In response to the argument that phones are needed for emergency situations, Ms McEwan said: "There is a process where pupils can engage with office staff to contact parents if there is an emergency."

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced the new national guidance, making it clear that head teachers will be “empowered to take action up to and including whole school bans” where they believe this to be necessary.

However she added: “The Scottish Government does not intend to dictate approaches to our headteachers – they know better than anyone the specific approach which will work best in their school.”

The guidance says policies on “respectful and responsible use of mobile phones” should be drawn up with the involvement of pupils, staff and parents.

With almost two thirds (62%) of children aged eight to 11 in Scotland owning a mobile, rising to 96% of 12 to 15-year-olds, the document stressed “mobile technology is an integral part of the lives of children and young people”.