Two Highland councillors have raised concerns about the extent to which technology is being used in schools, warning that digital devices should enhance rather than replace conventional teaching methods.
According to BBC News, Highland Council is being asked to evaluate whether the current mix of digital and non-digital learning remains appropriate for pupils across its area. The local authority introduced a technology access programme a decade ago, subsequently distributing laptops to pupils in Primary 6 through Secondary 6 at an initial cost of £6 million, while younger pupils in Primary 1 to 5 share devices within classrooms.
Councillors Michael Gregson and Helen Crawford have submitted a motion for consideration at the forthcoming full council meeting. They acknowledge that educational technology can support learning outcomes, but point to mounting research indicating that over-reliance on digital devices may impair cognitive development in children. The councillors emphasise that handwriting engages brain activity more effectively than keyboard typing, and they are requesting a comprehensive assessment that incorporates feedback from teaching staff, parents, guardians and students themselves.
The motion calls for recommendations ensuring that digital technology "complements, rather than replaces, high-quality teaching and learning". Two additional councillors, John Finlayson and Drew Millar, have tabled an amendment proposing that head teachers collaborate with their teams to "plan, monitor and review" the extent of device usage among pupils.
What does the research show about screens in schools?
Medical professionals have expressed serious reservations about classroom screen time. Last week, more than 150 clinicians—including general practitioners, paediatricians and other medical specialists—cautioned that the volume of time children in England spend using screens at school may be damaging their "physical and developmental health". The specialists raised concerns that tablets and laptops are being deployed without sufficient understanding of their long-term health consequences, particularly regarding eye health.
These concerns align with broader international scrutiny of device use in education. Earlier this year, Sweden's government announced a shift back towards physical books, paper and writing implements in classrooms, citing declining literacy standards. However, this policy reversal has faced pushback from technology firms, educators and computer scientists. The Swedish education system had embraced laptops extensively from the late 2000s onwards, with approximately 80% of pupils at municipal state-funded secondary schools holding individual device access by 2015.
How is Highland Council addressing device use?
Highland Council's approach reflects a broader reassessment of technology in schools across the United Kingdom. According to the Press and Journal, by January 2026 nearly two-thirds of Highland schools had implemented mobile phone bans in classrooms following individual school reviews and community engagement processes. This development demonstrates growing momentum toward restricting certain device categories while maintaining broader digital infrastructure.
The council's current digital provision reflects a structured rollout model. According to Highland Council's 2023–26 digital strategy, the authority has completed a refresh of approximately 22,000 Chromebooks and operates a one-to-one device model for Primary 6 through Secondary 6 pupils, with one device available for every five pupils in Primary 1 to 5. Council minutes from 2023 noted that Chromebooks have helped equalise technology access for Highland pupils, though concerns persist regarding inconsistent broadband connectivity and reliance on Google's education platforms.
What is the broader UK context?
The Highland motion reflects a pattern of device-use reassessment across the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland's education minister is consulting on legislation to ban smartphones in schools, following England's recent legal ban, with pilot schemes involving over 8,000 pupils demonstrating improvements in classroom behaviour and pupil interaction. Wales has launched a 12-week consultation on restricting mobile phones in schools, with new national guidance expected in early 2027, though the Welsh Government plans to issue recommendations rather than impose a legal ban, allowing schools discretion in implementation.
Meanwhile, Scotland's first dedicated AI literacy teacher warns pupils to question and verify AI outputs rather than trust them blindly, teaching students to identify deepfakes, recognise computational hallucinations, and resist uncritical reliance on technology. This approach suggests that rather than removing devices entirely, educational systems are increasingly focusing on teaching critical engagement with digital tools.
What prompted the Highland councillors' motion?
The current motion builds on earlier council action. In May 2025, Highland councillors unanimously supported a separate motion requesting schools to consult their communities on mobile phone use and committing council backing for schools choosing to implement phone bans. That decision reflected growing parental and staff concerns about device distraction and mental health impacts, concerns that have intensified as research on screen time accumulates.
The Gregson-Crawford motion represents a shift from device provision toward device governance—a recognition that access to technology, while valuable for equity and learning support, requires careful calibration to avoid unintended cognitive and developmental consequences. The councillors' emphasis on assessment and stakeholder consultation suggests that Highland is moving toward a more nuanced technology policy, one that maintains digital infrastructure while establishing clearer boundaries around when and how devices are used in teaching.
