Northumberland readers respond to plans for legal ban on phones in schools

On Monday, April 20, the government said it would make an amendment to its Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to make the existing guidance on smartphones a legal requirement.

This means they will be banned for the entirety of the school day across England. Mobile phone policies in schools will also be inspected by Ofsted from April.

We asked Northumberland Gazette readers if they think the ban is a good idea.

The majority spoke in favour of the plans, believing it would be beneficial for mental health and concentration, and would take the strain off teachers to implement their own policies.

Suzanne Osborne wrote: “Most school don't allow them anyway and phones have to be locked away, so it's really not a huge difference except it will make it easier for schools to enforce. Has to be a good thing for concentration as well as mental health.”

Jane H Lacy said: “We never had phones in school and that’s why it was a better world, everyone looked after each other.”

Len Smith added: “School is for learning not using phones.”

However, some argued that smartphones are necessary for safety and that children should be allowed the freedom to have one on them during school hours.

Jude Dickson said: “I disagree! Sorry but our schools and country are not safe under this government I'm sad to say! At least if kids have their phones they can be tracked by family members.”

The details of the government's amendment have not yet been published.