John Swinney pledges national ban on phones in classes if SNP wins in May

The SNP is to bring in a national ban on smartphones in classes if it wins May’s Holyrood election, John Swinney has pledged.

The First Minister and SNP leader insisted the devices were “a distraction from learning” pledging legislation after the election to ban them across Scotland.

Currently head teachers have the power to ban smartphones in their schools, with a number of councils in Scotland having acted.

However Mr Swinney said that the SNP will now seek to “ensure a full national ban in Scotland’s classrooms”.

He told the Daily Record newspaper: “We have already taken action to empower headteachers to act but if re-elected we will legislate to deliver a full ban across Scotland.

“The SNP is on the side of schools and we will take every step necessary to ensure teaching in our classrooms is done without distraction.

“We have record levels of literacy and numeracy in our schools and this national ban will support pupils and teachers to build on that progress.”

SNP support for a nationwide ban on phones in classes was welcomed by Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Willie Rennie, who said: “I’m glad to see the SNP backing a Scottish Liberal Democrat policy yet again.

“We have long argued for a full ban on smartphones in classrooms, but John Swinney has never come on board until now.”