Our EdTech Petition
We are hearing from large numbers of parents, carers and teachers who are sharing a broad range of concerns about the use of pupil-facing educational technology in Early Years, Primary and Secondary school settings. Concerns extend to the use of 1:1 devices and gamified applications used for maths, reading, spelling and science.
Most 1:1 devices and EdTech platforms have not been independently evaluated for educational benefit and, along with excessive screen use, are evidenced to have a negative impact on children’s focus, attention, educational attainment and broader wellbeing. 1:1 devices have also been facilitating children’s access to non-educational content.
We are calling on the Government to pause the use of devices and EdTech in schools until such time as net educational benefit can be demonstrated, and independent studies can confirm that 1:1 device use does not pose unacceptable safety and wellbeing risks for school-age children.
We have created an online petition that you can sign if you share our concerns about the use of 1:1 devices and pupil-facing EdTech in schools.
What do you want us to do?
Pause and review Pupil-Facing EdTech Until it is Independently Proven Safe and Effective
Tell us more about what you want the Government or Parliament to do
Pause all pupil-facing 1:1 device and EdTech use in schools and early years settings – except for children with specific technology needs – unless and until reputable, independent assessments confirm both net educational benefit and no unacceptable safeguarding, health or wellbeing risks for children.
Tell us more about why you want the Government or Parliament to do it
We feel that 1:1 devices and EdTech platforms have been rapidly adopted by schools despite virtually no evidence of net learning benefit. Reputable independent studies show device can negatively impact academic attainment, particularly for disadvantaged children. 1:1 devices and platforms are linked to an increase in bullying, access to inappropriate content, safeguarding and data privacy issues and an array of negative physical, emotional and social health impacts.