THE EDUCATION minister, Gillian Keegan has announced a total ban on mobile phones in schools.
The minister made the comments as part of her speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester (Monday).
Some schools already ban the use of mobiles, with pupils required to hand in their phones each morning – or face the punishment of a detention if they are caught using them.
Ministers already encourage headteachers to limit phone usage, with many schools having put restrictions in place. But the BBC reported Keegan wanted expanded guidance to be offered by Whitehall, and government sources told the broadcaster they were confident it would have an effect.
Now it looks like she has gone one step further and is “banning phones in schools”.
Most Thurrock schools require the pupils phones to be switched off when they enter the school grounds.
Pupils may be given permission to use phones in emergencies but also in circumstances such as a change in venue for an after-school sports fixture.
Many may see this as a political gimmick by an under-fire party that is behind in the polls.
Indeed, just after the minister out forward the above tweet, Ms Keegan then admitted on a radio interview on LBC, said it was “guidance”.
