School children in England could face a ban of mobile phones when in school as new guidance could be introduced.
Today (19 February), the Department for Education published guidance on the pledge to 'ensure consistency' in classrooms across the country.
The guidance in question is said to encourage all schools to follow this new approach, so that more pupils can benefit from the 'advantages of a phone-free environment'.
According to the Gov.uk website, 97 percent of children own a mobile phone by the age of 12, however such devices in school can 'lead to distractions, disruption and can increase the risk of online bullying'.
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The guidance warns that, in certain schools across the country, the use of mobile phones remains a 'daily battle' and tells teachers that ministers believe 'all schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day - not only during lessons but break and lunchtimes as well'.
The guidance explains that schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones, but each school will have autonomy on how to do this, including banning phones from the school premises altogether, handing in phones on arrival at school, or keeping phones locked away.
It also sets out that there will be some limited cases where pupils should be exempt from the rule as 'some children need their mobile phones for medical reasons, or because they have special educational needs and/or disabilities'.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: "You go to school, you go to learn, you go to create those friendships, you go to speak to people and socialise and you go to get educated - you don’t go to sit on your mobile phone or to send messages whilst you could actually talk to somebody."
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Keegan also added in a foreword to the document that the guidance would provide 'clarity and consistency' for teachers and that there is currently 'a large variation in how different schools are managing the use of mobile phones'.
She continued: "Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.
"We are giving our hard-working teachers the tools to take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best - teach."
Tom Bennett, who advises the Department for Education on behaviour, said: "Mobile phones may be ubiquitous, but we have a strong and growing understanding of how damaging they can be for a child’s social and educational development.
"And it’s the least advantaged who suffer most. Many schools already have some kind of policy on phones, but this guidance provides a clear steer for everyone, including parents, about what’s right and what’s not for the wellbeing of the child.’
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But the Association of School and College Leaders General Secretary, Geoff Barton, said that the 'compulsive use' of devices was not actually happening in schools but instead 'while children are out of school'.
He added: "Most schools already forbid the use of mobile phones during the school day or allow their use only in limited and stipulated circumstances.
"We have lost count of the number of times that ministers have now announced a crackdown on mobile phones in schools. It is a non-policy for a non-problem.
"The government would be far better off putting its energies into bringing to heel the online platforms via which children are able to access disturbing and extreme content."
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