New guidance has been issued in England to curb children’s use of mobile phones during the school day. The move, which aims to reduce disruption and improve behaviour, will ensure a consistent approach because many schools have already banned phones, said UK government officials. The guidance sets out several options for a phone-free environment, including a total ban or rules that require phones to be handed in at the start of the day, while pupils could keep phones, but only on the condition that they are not used or seen.
The policy was first called for almost three years ago, and was criticised by the Association of School and College Leaders union as a “non-policy for a non-problem”. Headteachers are also entitled to search pupils and confiscate items that breach school rules, according to the guidance. School leaders should “develop and implement a policy…which reflects their school’s individual contexts and needs”, according to the guidance.
An estimated 29% of secondary school pupils reported that mobiles were used when not permitted during their lessons, according to a government survey. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, called on ministers to address issues such as funding, special needs provision and the condition of school buildings rather than focusing on mobile phones. There is no complete ban on phones in schools in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, which have devolved education administrations
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