Pupils WILL have to hand in phones at the start of the day
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Schools have been ordered to make pupils hand in phones at the start of the day instead of allowing them to be kept in bags under new changes to statutory guidance.
The guidance, which was published earlier this year, will be updated to make clear that pupils must not have access to their phone during the school day.
Previously, most schools were running 'not seen, not heard' policies, whereby pupils were allowed to keep phones on them as long as they were not being used.
However, survey results found only 16 per cent of secondary pupils said phone rules were followed all of the time.
In April, education minister Olivia Bailey said these policies would not be allowed under the new guidance.
And today, the Department for Education said it would officially update the wording to reflect this, effective from next September.
A spokesman said: 'The strengthened guidance will make clear that schools should go beyond "not seen, not heard" – where phones may remain in pupils' bags – and adopt whole-school strategies that keep phones out of use and inaccessible throughout the school day.'
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: 'Children should not be using smartphones at any point during the school day, full stop. That's why we're strengthening our guidance to take the next leap towards truly phone-free schools.
Schools have been ordered to make pupils hand in phones at the start of the day instead of allowing them to be kept in bags under new changes to statutory guidance. Pictured: Education Secretary Lucy Powell
'Schools are already leading the way. We're backing heads and teachers with a clear message for parents and pupils: school is for learning and friendship, not scrolling.
'Alongside our curriculum reforms, this is about making school unmissable – giving every child more chances to learn, connect and thrive.'
The guidance already says phones should not be accessible 'throughout the school day', which includes 'during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime'.
However, it is understood that after this was published, some schools were still allowing pupils to keep phones with them.
Under the updated guidance, schools will have to either impose a complete ban or provide secure pouches or lockers so that phones can be securely stored throughout the day.
Polling published in March this year found that 40 per cent of children aged nine to 16 were turning down real-world opportunities to spend time online.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has also made a link between declining reading and maths performance internationally, and distractions from screens.
Reacting, shadow education secretary Laura Trott said: 'I am delighted that Labour have finally listened to us and agreed to properly ban smartphones in schools.
'This sudden outbreak of common sense is welcome.'
However, today the Government is also announcing a new consultation on the use of education apps in the classroom, which Ms Trott said showed a 'lack of joined up thinking'.
The consultation will explore 'independent safety certification' for education technology – known as EdTech – amid concerns it is not regulated enough.
Ms Trott said: 'A review of EdTech safety is the right thing to do, but this is the same Government ploughing ahead with unevidenced AI (artificial intelligence) tutors for the most disadvantaged children.
'These are the very children who need proper teacher-led support, not to be treated as guinea pigs in another technology experiment.'
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