Children should play outside instead of playing on their mobile phones, the headmaster of the King’s former school has said.
Peter Green, the principal of Gordonstoun School in Moray, argued that pupils spending more time outside from the classroom and away from “screen time” helped tackle indiscipline.
He said schools were only now starting to see the psychological impact of lockdown on children, and particularly the amount of time they spent indoors.
Mr Green said more outdoor lessons “would help turn that around” and “deal with persistent and serious behaviour” from pupils.
Teaching unions and behaviour experts warned earlier this year that Scottish schools were facing “an exponential increase” in pupil violence, with classroom behaviour deteriorating “massively” and absences outstripping England.
More than 90 per cent of schools in England have banned mobile phone use, according to a survey published earlier this year, after Government guidance was issued advising teachers to restrict their use.
The SNP government supports headteachers who want to outlaw mobiles in Scottish schools but Labour has pledged to introduce a blanket ban if it wins next year’s Holyrood election.
Gordonstoun, where the King was educated in the 1960s, has long championed the benefits of activities such as volunteering, hiking, sailing and camping.
After fleeing Germany under threat from the Nazis, Dr Kurt Hahn founded the school in 1933 with the aim of fostering the qualities of skill, compassion, honesty, initiative, adventure and a sense of service in his students.
Mr Green said: “We are only now beginning to see the psychological impact of the Covid pandemic on our children, particularly the amount of time they spent indoors.
“Significantly, this report has concluded that parents were impacted as well, with a lasting and negative impact on attitudes towards schooling. The question is how we turn that around.
“While schools must have a range of options to deal with persistent and serious behaviour, it is important that we look at the wider education package being offered to children.
“We have a responsibility to not only teach children but to equip them for life after school, recognising that some of the most valuable education cannot be cultivated through classroom learning alone.”
Highlighting Gordonstoun’s “Hahnian” philosophy emphasising outdoor learning, he added: “This channels youthful energy in productive ways rather than in conflict. Demonstrating to children that it’s ok to fail and try again means they learn key life skills such as resilience, as well as co-operation and self-discipline.
“This outdoor approach has never been more relevant today as we deal with the increasing challenge of how much ‘screen access’ to devices we should give our children.”
Mr Green’s intervention comes after experts warned this week that this was a “serious and growing behavioural problem” in Scottish schools.
The Commission on School Reform urged SNP ministers to give headteachers more powers to suspend or exclude “pupils guilty of persistent or extreme behavioural problems”.
A recent study led by Stirling University found Scottish primary pupils in 2022 were only getting an average of seven minutes a week of outdoor learning, excluding physical education.
This was a sharp drop from the 30 minutes per week they got in 2014 and 19 minutes in 2006, the researchers found, with Covid restrictions responsible for only part of the decline.
This week SNP ministers dropped their attempt to block a law giving Scottish children the right to outdoor education trips after facing a fierce backlash.
Liz Smith, a Tory MSP, has argued her Bill would “level up” by ensuring that all young people, regardless of their backgrounds, would receive at least five days and four nights of outdoor education.
A majority of MSPs have voted to approve the general principles of the legislation and they will now consider the plans in more detail, including amendments to lower its cost, before deciding whether it will become law.
Ms Smith said: “This is a timely and welcome intervention from the principal at Gordonstoun. While bringing forward my proposals to give state-school pupils access to outdoor education, I have been heartened by the backing it has secured from many educational experts and organisations.
“As I continue to work with SNP ministers on my bill, I hope they will listen to those who are rightly highlighting the widespread benefits outdoor education can bring for our young pupils, including improving their behaviour.”
The Scottish Government was approached for comment.