Responding as the government today writes to schools strengthening its guidance on phone bans in schools - and saying that Ofsted will inspect schools' implementation of this approach going forward - Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“School leaders are as concerned as everyone about the impact of social media and phones on children and young people. 

“NAHT has supported calls for a ban on the use of mobile phones during the school day by pupils and welcome the clarity provided today. Some schools will need time to communicate with students and parents and implement the logistics to put a complete ban into practice.

“However, the government’s suggestions that Ofsted should inspect phone bans is both unnecessary and unhelpful. It betrays an unwarranted lack of trust in school leaders. School leaders will feel threatened rather than supported by this approach.”

On the forthcoming consultation, which will seek views on a social media ban for children, Mr Whiteman added: “We support the government’s approach to consult on a social media ban.

“While all school leaders are concerned about the sometimes negative impact of social media on young people, this is a complex issue, and it is only right that we should think carefully about the practicalities and any unintended consequences of a ban.

“There is also an opportunity to learn from the early experiences of other countries that have gone down this route.”