A number of schools in the Truro area – including three secondary schools – did not attend a meeting last week to discuss the possible ban of smartphones in primary and secondary education settings despite being invited to take part.

The turnout at the meeting last week, which was arranged by Truro City Council, has been called “disappointing” by a leading member of an organisation called Smartphone Free Childhood, which is campaigning for a ban due to the harmful effects phones in schools can have.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced plans yesterday (Monday, January 26) for children in England to be banned from using mobile phones for the entire school day, including lessons, break times and lunchtime.

The letter to schools in the Truro area inviting them to a meeting on January 20 came after a discussion at the city council last September instigated by Smartphone Free Childhood.

The stark evidence of phone use among schoolchildren was presented to councillors by Jo Dowell, an art and design teacher at Truro College who is a member of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign.

She told the September meeting: “The problem is simple: smartphones are everywhere in young people’s lives and when they enter schools, they bring harm.”

Mrs Dowell said there is now an overwhelming body of evidence showing that smartphone use can have serious implications on the mental health, academic performance and social development of children and adolescents.

According to a 2023 study by the UK-based charity Parent Zone, over 80 per cent of secondary school students report feeling anxious or left out due to social media pressures, with one in three saying they’ve experienced cyberbullying.

Mrs Dowell added: “Smartphones bring cyberbullying, sexting, harmful content and privacy risks into classrooms and corridors – 84 per cent of bullying now happens online and it follows children home, into their bedrooms, in their pockets.

“Children are so afraid of losing their phones that they often hide abuse rather than seek help. Teachers meanwhile are spending precious time policing devices instead of teaching.

“Playtimes once filled with games, jokes and friendships are now dominated by silent scrolling instead of climbing trees or kicking footballs. The simple joys that build resilience and happiness are being stolen away.”

Of all the schools in the Truro area that were invited to last week’s meeting, only three attended – Threemilestone, Chacewater and Truro High School for Girls. There was also a representative from Aspire Academy Trust on behalf of Mount Hawke Academy, Truro Learning Academy, Shortlanesend School and Tregolls Academy.

Those schools which didn’t attend, according to Smartphone Free Childhood, were Richard Lander and Penair secondary schools in Truro, Truro School Prep and Senior, Oak Tree School in Threemilestone, Polwhele House, St Agnes Academy, Bosvigo School in Truro, Devoran School, Kea Community School, St Erme with Trispen primary, St Mary’s Primary in Truro, Pencalenick, Archbishop Benson Primary in Truro, Blackwater Community Primary, Chacewater Community Primary, Mithian School and Community Hospital Education Service.

Emily Hudson, network lead for Smartphone Free Childhood Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, said: “Really disappointing, especially given the national debate at present in the House of Commons and House of Lords about social media and children; a separate but related issue.”

Mrs Dowell added: “I think in light of the recent discussions in Parliament I can’t believe how unprogressive the attitude is down here.”

The letter to the schools, written by Truro town clerk David Rodda, said: “Under current policies, Cornwall’s schools do not allow pupils to bring the following into school: strangers, cameras, expensive items, toys/games, addictive items, self-harm material, pornographic material, DVD players showing 15 and 18 age-rated videos, terrorist or traumatic material, but smartphones create the opportunity for all of these items to be brought into school.”