'Snapchat is the worst one by far' - Calderdale teachers share social media concerns as Government considers ban for under 16s

Safeguarding, wellbeing, mental health, bullying and a host of other concerns are beginning on social media, and leaking into schools.

The Government is currently consulting on whether to introduce a ban on social media for under 16s, as well as other measures designed to stop teenagers accessing addictive and harmful material.

It has already said it wants to ban phones in schools, although the vast majority of schools already have this in place.

In Calderdale, Trinity Academy Halifax’s principal Sarah Case is clear on her stance – she would absolutely back a social media ban for children.

"It would help parents,” she said. “Kids are savvy and intelligent, and can understand this if we explain to to them.

"A ban would mean it's not just parents saying this. As a society, we're recognising this is a real problem and trying to do something about it."

Phones have been banned at Trinity Academy Halifax for more than 10 years and the policy works well, said Mrs Case, with students clear about the fact that their phones are not to be used during the school day.

"The expectation is made really clear,” she said. “Phones are to be turned off and away in bags, and if they are seen out, they will be confiscated."

Mrs Case said she has visited a school elsewhere in the country where phones were allowed during lunchtime, and she saw a “stark difference”.

At her school, the canteen is filled with the sound of pupils chatting to each other as they eat. But at the other school, it was much quieter because students were not engaging with each other – they were glued to their phones.

She supports a ban on social media for under 16s because she is concerned about the content children are being exposed to via social media and unfettered access to internet.

While the school teaches pupils about online safety, she says the majority of safeguarding and behaviour issues she and her colleagues deal with happen outside of school and predominantly online.

She knows parents are doing their best but said even if they have all the available parental controls switched on for their children's phones and are regularly checking those devices, children can easily be shown inappropriate content on another child's phone.

"We see different issues across different age groups but we'd be naive to say it isn't cross-generational, she said.

"There are things Year 7s are accessing via social media and access to the internet that would make parents blush."

She added that social media platforms have been shown to be designed to be addictive and when it comes to young, developing brains, children cannot be expected to control their own use.

At the school’s Year 6 transition evening, one of her main asks of parents is not to allow them phones at night because they disrupt sleep, are addictive and parents don't necessarily know who their children are talking to.

Issues stemming from social media are not just impacting high school students – primary school-aged children are becoming victims too.

Trinity Academy Whitehill principal Chris Kimberley said: “Phones cause us a lot of problems.

"Despite us educating children about the dangers and urging parents not to allow their children on social media, there are some who are.

"Snapchat is the worst one by far. Sometimes it'll be WhatsApp but Snapchat is the worst.

"Children will say things on there that they would never say to someone in school."

Only Year 6 children are able to bring a phone with them to school, he said – because some walk to and from school - and they are told to turn it off before they come inside and hand it straight to their teacher until the end of the day.

Despite messages being shared outside of school hours, the problems they lead to land on the school to deal with.

He said issues are usually concerning Year 5 and 6 children but he has worked in a school where it was not uncommon for Year 2 children to be using mobile phones.

He would strongly urge parents not to allow their children to use social media and if they do, to be meticulous about checking how they are using platforms and the messages being sent.

At The Halifax Academy, all students in Years 7 to 10 are soon to receive their own phone pouch to keep their devices in while they are in school.

Pupils are already banned from using their phones inside school but these pouches will mean they will be physically unable to until they are unlocked at the end of the day.

Headteacher Matt Perry hopes that as well as making the school’s phone rules easier to police, introducing the physical change will lead to a cultural shift in children’s approach to their phones.

"The majority of parents are up for it," he said.

"I'm expecting some kids to start leaving their phones at home.”

He thinks the issue of whether to ban under 16s from social media is complex. He says some children live their lives on it, some do not.

But he is in favour of stricter moderation of the algorithms that push youngsters towards extreme, distressing and anxiety-fuelling content.

And he wants to see more measures to help stop young people from scrolling all the time.

"Where are the youth clubs and places for young people to go and safe spaces for people to go and be young?" he asked.