‘Phone ban makes students talk to each other more’

A ban on mobile phones at a Manchester school has made pupils more sociable and active, a senior teacher has said.

All schools in England were dismissed in October government guidance Curbing the use of mobile phones during school days.

But Burnage Academy for Boys banned phones about 12 years ago, and associate assistant head teacher Greg Morrison said it had made a “big impact”.

Dr Lewis Black, of the School of Education at the University of Manchester, said it was important to “keep the conversation going about digital literacy and staying safe”.

Mr Morrison said banning phones would mean “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 huge impact in terms of engagement in the classroom,” he said.

“When you see groups of young people out and about in the city, they are all sitting around tables looking at their phones and not talking.

“What we see here at lunch time is students playing soccer, students sitting and talking, students sharing food with each other.”

Year 11 student Logan said he liked the restrictions at school because it meant he wouldn’t be distracted.

Another student, Lucas, said: “Me and my partner, we just talk to each other the whole lunch.”

Education expert Dr. Black said, “Phones are an important part of young people’s lives.”

He said young people use them “in many different ways” and that some teachers find using the apps in the classroom useful.

But he stressed that schools are “very diverse and what works in one school will not necessarily work in another”.

Government guidance allows schools to set their own policies on mobile phone use.