Commenting as the government announces strengthened guidance for schools, which will make clear that they should go beyond ‘not seen, not heard’ in implementing mobile phone bans, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders union NAHT, said:

“While phones and the online world clearly offer benefits, there is a time and place for their use. As well as the safety issues which can arise, they can be an unhelpful distraction during the school day.

“Many schools already have restrictions on phones, but going beyond a ‘not seen, not heard’ approach comes at a cost.

“If schools are to implement some of the more robust measures suggested in this guidance, they will need access to additional funding and support.”