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Banning mobile phones in schools is to play a major part in a new plan tackling poor behaviour of pupils.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is backing head teachers who take a tough stance, saying "it's now time to put the screens away".
He said phones not only distracted from “exercise and good old-fashioned play” but were also one of the causes of cyber bullying and the inappropriate use of social media.
Writing in a national newspaper, Mr Williamson said: "I will always support schools taking a firm approach; for example, taking action to tackle the scourge of ever-present mobile phones – because I know the positive impact it will have on students’ wellbeing and attainment.”
It comes ahead of an announcement about a £10million 'behaviour hub', that will set out how to maintain good discipline in class, due to come into force by the summer term.
The debate over the use of mobile phones in schools is nothing new, with the issue consistently proving divisive among parents.
And the responses to KentOnline's daily question on social media – What do you think about the idea of banning mobile phones in schools? – revealed people remain divided.
Arabella Bentley had no doubt, saying: "Definitely 'No' to phones at school!"
She said she was concerned we were bringing up a generation that "truly have no social skills". She added: "The art of communication is being lost. Life skills start with being able to stand still, hold eye contact and have a conversation with a person or a group of people."
At the other end of the argument was Tara Davis, who was adamant her child would be holding on to her mobile. "When my 4yo attends secondary school i will insist she has a phone if she wants to walk there and back with friends," she said. "Also incase of bullying etc."
Linda Jones agreed. "Children need to be able to speak to a parent if necessary," she wrote.
Security was a common reason a number of respondents thought phones should be allowed, at least for travelling to and from school.
Wendy Williams posted: "My son's school aren’t allowed them during school time but he takes one in for the journey there and back.
"If pupils are caught using them they are confiscated and a parent has to collect them. He is Year 9. I think that system is fair enough and I imagine most schools have something similar in place.
"Whilst he is travelling by bus there and back he will not be without a means of contacting me and he doesn’t switch it on until he is on the bus."
While Mr Williamson admitted technology had been invaluable in keeping children learning during lockdowns, he still insisted screens should now be put away, adding "especially mobile phones".
But Leanna Mills was among those to point out they are also useful in a classroom. "Sometimes the children have to use their phones to research online in school with the teacher's permission as they don't always have the resources to hand otherwise," she said.
Sheena Anne added: "He has a point, when out at break there are more students sitting playing games on their phones than talking to each other or playing football, basketball.... but utilisation of their tech in class is useful when the schools tech is not up to standard."
Other posts suggested children on their phones was a much bigger problem than just in schools and questioned whether parents should be leading by example.
While Sherrie Jones said she thought Mr Williamson needed to consider that it was not mobiles that caused the problem but rather "the ridiculous amounts of stress put on our children by the ridiculous way we 'educate' them now!"
Education leaders say schools need a clear set of procedures which explain expectations and consequences to parents and students.
Simon Cox, executive head teacher at Swale Academies Trust, in Sittingbourne, said any ban would have to be clearly defined.
"I think most people accept that it is a good idea for students to have access to a mobile phone to and from school, particularly for those children who travel without their parents. Given this, what would students do with their phone when they arrive?
"To ask schools to take responsibility for phones during the day would be a distraction and burden to the core job of teaching."
At Westlands secondary school, Mr Cox said pupils were allowed phones at break but not in lessons and if a phone disturbed a class it would be confiscated and picked up by a parent or carer.
He added: "It is worth noting that the vast majority of students take a mature approach to mobile technology, understand the associated risks and tend to respond constructively when they make a mistake.
"To deny the sensible majority with a blanket ban might be considered extreme."
“There is much that the Education Secretary could be getting on with, rather than jumping to wild assumptions about school behaviour and reaching for crowd-pleasing announcements about mobile phone bans.”
Teachers are also understood to have reservations about a ban on mobiles.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “The feedback we’ve been receiving from our members is that the Education Secretary has not done his homework on the issue of behaviour in the classroom.
“Quite contrary to what Mr Williamson has said, heads are reporting a sense of calm and co-operation from students that is deeply impressive. Young people are relaxed and pleased to be back at school and, most importantly, behaviour has never been better.
“There are much bigger fish needing to be fried by the government, not least the perilous state of education funding and the arrangements for next year’s GCSE and A-levels.
“There is much that the Education Secretary could be getting on with, rather than jumping to wild assumptions about school behaviour and reaching for crowd-pleasing announcements about mobile phone bans.”
In 2018, Sandwich Technology School split opinion among parents when its head teacher announced it was implementing a ban on mobiles.
The rule stated phones must be kept switched off and in the bottom of bags throughout the day on the school premises.
Meanwhile, in 2019 there was a tightening of the rules at The Towers School in Kennington, near Ashford, where pupils were threatened with having their devices confiscated for a week if they were repeatedly caught using them at school.
While there was support from some parents, others branded the policy "heavy handed".
