Teachers ordered to search students for mobile phones

Gillian Keegan said: “We are giving our hardworking teachers the tools to take action.” Photo: Victor Szymanovic/Anadolu/Getty Images < p>Ms Keegan said: “Schools are places where children can learn, and mobile phones are, at the very least, an unwanted distraction in the classroom.”

“We give our hardworking teachers tools they can use. actions that will help improve behavior and allow them to do what they do best — teach.”

The guidance comes after Esther Gay, the mother of murdered trans teen Brianna Gay, called for mobile phones to be specifically produced. to prevent children under 16 from accessing harmful content.

Last week, the father of Molly Russell, who took her own life after seeing images of self-harm and suicide online, joined her to demand tougher measures to tackle social networks.

In England everything depends on each person. Managers determine their own policies regarding mobile phones and whether they should be banned. Many have already introduced bans. Catherine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School in north London, known as Britain's toughest headteacher, requires children to put their phones in their lockers when they arrive at school.

The guide, which is not mandatory, instructs school principals on how to prohibit the use of phones not only during lessons, but also during breaks and lunch.

< p>Clarifies that school principals or their designees have the legal right to search a student or the student's property if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the student is in possession of a prohibited item.

It says: “Principals can and should identify mobile phones and similar devices as something to look for in their school behavior policy.”

“The least advantaged suffer the most”

Tom Bennett, Department for Education behavior consultant , said: “Mobile phones may be everywhere, but we have a clear and growing understanding of how harmful they can be to a child's social and educational development.”

“And the least advantaged suffer the most. Many schools already have some kind of phone policy, but these guidelines provide a clear message to everyone, including parents, about what is right and wrong for the child's well-being.»

By age 12 According to Ofcom, 97 per cent of children have their own mobile phone. Experts say the use of mobile phones in schools can lead to online bullying, distraction and learning disruption, which in turn can lead to lost learning time.

Last year, UNESCO called for a ban on smartphone use in schools as evidence showed it was linked to lower academic performance and that excessive screen time was negatively impacting children's well-being.

Official figures show 29 per cent of secondary school pupils said they had used mobile phones when they were not supposed to.

The move will bring England into line with the measures. adopted by other countries where mobile phone use is restricted, including France, Italy and Portugal.

Ms Keegan announced the Government planned to ban mobile phones in schools at the Conservative Party conference last year.

The guidance suggests four ways for school principals to ban phones. The first is “No Cell Phones on School Grounds,” which requires phones to be left at home or with parents. The second option is “cell phone check-in on arrival,” which gives students access to their cell phones before and after school. They can be collected at the end of the school day.

The third option is «keeping mobile phones in safe places» such as lockers, and the last is described as «never used, seen or heard of», whereby students can only keep their phones under the strict condition that they are never used , neither see nor hear. — with consequences for breach such as confiscation.

Last night the Association of School and College Leaders said it did not expect the new guidance to have any noticeable effect.

Geoff Barton , its secretary-general said “compulsive use” of devices does not happen in schools, but “while children are not in school.”

“Abandoning policy for the sake of not having a problem”

He said: “Most schools are already banning use of mobile phones during the school day or allow their use only in limited and specified circumstances.

“We have lost count of the number of times ministers have announced a crackdown on mobile phone use. in schools. This is a non-policy for a non-issue.

“The government would be much better off focusing its efforts on subduing online platforms through which children can access disturbing and extreme content.”