According to new government instructions, headteachers in the UK will be instructed to forbid students from using mobile phones throughout the whole school day.
Children should not be allowed to use electronic devices during breaks or during class, according to the Department for Education.
The ideas will be unveiled on Monday, October 2, at the Conservative Party convention by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.
The government already urges principals to restrict phone use, and many schools already have rules in place.
According to the Daily Mail, Gillian Keegan will forbid smartphones in classrooms both during instruction time and during break times to guarantee that students can pay attention.
According to sources familiar with the conversations, Ms. Keegan will give fresh instructions to schools forcing them to implement new safeguards to prevent students from using their phones.
A source told The Daily Mail: “Gillian believes that mobile phones pose a serious challenge in terms of distraction, disruptive behaviour, and bullying. It is one of the biggest issues that children and teachers have to grapple with so she will set out a way forward to empower teachers to ban mobiles from classrooms.”
The policy will be presented by Mrs Keegan at the Manchester Conservative Party Conference.
In 2021, Gavin Williamson, who was then the education secretary, suggested a device-ban in schools after stating that cell phones were “distracting” and “damaging.”
At the time, he said: “Mobile phones are not just distracting, but when misused or overused, they can have a damaging effect on a pupil’s mental health and wellbeing. I want to put an end to this, making the school day mobile-free.
“In order for us to help pupils overcome the challenges from the pandemic and level up opportunity for all young people, we need to ensure they can benefit from calm classrooms which support them to thrive.”
