AQW 38772/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 21/01/2026
Answered On Date: 30/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether the Education and Training Inspectorate will have a role in checking mobile phone policies are being implemented within schools.

Answer:

The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) already considers a school’s policy in relation to restricting the use of mobile phones under the broader heading of ‘Health, Wellbeing and Keeping Safe’. Inspectors scrutinise associated policy documentation, coupled with direct observation of learning and teaching in the classroom to evaluate the effectiveness of the policies in practice, rather than compliance alone. Any areas requiring action will be referenced explicitly in the inspection report.