The BBCBanning mobile phones at a Manchester school has made pupils more sociable and involved, a senior teacher has said.
Given to all schools in England in October. Government guidance To prevent mobile phone use during school days.
But Burnage Academy for Boys banned phones about 12 years ago, and assistant headteacher Greg Morrison said it had had a “huge impact”.
Dr Louise Blake, from the University of Manchester’s School of Education, said it was important to “continue the conversation around digital literacy and staying safe”.
Mr Morrison said banning phones meant “one less distraction in the classroom”.
Phones are not allowed at any time – including break times – until the end of the school day.
“We’ve seen a big impact in terms of engagement in class,” he said.
“When you see groups of young people out and about in the city, they’re all sitting around a table looking at their phones and not talking.
“We see students here at lunchtime playing soccer, students sitting and talking, students sharing food with each other.”
Year 11 student Logan said he liked the ban at school because it meant he wasn’t distracted.
Lucas, another student, said: “My partner and I, we only talk to each other for lunch.”
‘Part of Life’
Educationist Dr Black said: “Phones are very much a part of young people’s lives”.
She said young people use them “in many different ways” and some teachers find using the apps in the classroom useful.
But he stressed that schools are “very diverse and what works in one school doesn’t necessarily work in another”.
Government guidance allows schools to set their own policies on mobile phone use.