NEWS that the Government has announced its plan to stop pupils from using mobile phones in schools has been welcomed by Andover youngsters.
As previously reported, schools in England have been given new guidance intended to stop the use of mobile phones during the school day.
The Government said the move was part of a plan to "minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms".
While many schools have already banned phones, the new plan is expected to ensure a consistent approach for educational institutions.
READ MORE: Teachers get new guidance as ministers ‘ban’ mobile phones in schools
Andover youngsters have welcomed the move and said it would help students focus during classes, but they said students should still be allowed to carry mobile phones for safety reasons.
"It is important that kids have phones with them if they stay late or if they have an after-school club," said Emma Whiting.
"It is not good to use phones in lessons per se, but I think it’s good to have it on you just to let parents know where you are at the end of a day.
Ellie Kenway also echoed the sentiments and said banning phones during school hours would also stop bullying to some extent.
"It is good to have phones on you because they would want to contact their parents about where they are," Ellie said.
"But on the other hand, it would help stop bullying and circulating photos of people."
Danielle Kelly and Sophie Smith also welcomed the ban on phones during lesson hours.
"I think phones do make you distracted during lessons. So it's not too bad to keep phones away during that time," said Danielle.
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"But I hope the schools won't ask students to not bring phones. That would be ridiculous," added Sophie.
The Government guideline includes how to search students and their bags for devices “if necessary” and suggests that headteachers “can and should identify mobile phones and similar devices as something that may be searched for in their school behaviour policy”.
The guidance is non-statutory, meaning it will still be down to individual headteachers to decide their own school policy on mobile phones and whether to ban them.
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