Schools in England should be phone-free all day, education secretary says

"Schools should be phone-free throughout the entire day, the education secretary has told headteachers in England, stressing that pupils should not use the devices even as calculators or for research. Bridget Phillipson wrote to schools to underline updated guidance issued by the government last week, according to the BBC. Schools should make sure those policies are applied consistently across classes, and at all times and we want parents to back these policies too, Phillipson said."

"Phillipson said Ofsted, the schools watchdog, would inspect how schools implement the policy, while the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said it would take immediate action on children's social media use. The updated guidance states that pupils should not have access to their devices during lessons, break times, lunchtimes or between lessons."

"DSIT data shows 99.9% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools already have mobile phone policies. However, 58% of secondary school pupils reported phones being used without permission in some lessons, rising to 65% among key stage four pupils. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, told the BBC school leaders need support from government, not the threat of heavy-handed inspection."

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson instructed that schools should be phone-free throughout the school day and that pupils should not use devices even as calculators or for research. Schools should apply policies consistently across classes and times, and parents should support them. Teachers were advised not to use phones in front of pupils. Ofsted will inspect implementation and DSIT will act on children's social media use. Updated guidance prohibits pupil access to devices during lessons, break times, lunchtimes or between lessons. DSIT data shows near-universal policies but significant unauthorised use among secondary pupils. Ministers are consulting on an Australian-style social media ban for under-16s.

Read at www.theguardian.com