Readers of the Bucks Free Press are divided as to whether a government ban on mobile phones in schools is 'long overdue' or unnecessary.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced yesterday (October 2) that new guidance from the Department of Education would recommend a ban on mobile phone use in schools across England, including at break times, in a bid to "tackle disruptive behaviour and online bullying while boosting attention during lessons". 

The move has sparked debate among educational bodies and public figures - and our loyal Bucks Free Press readers haven't been immune to the divisive nature of the plans.

Ruth Woolven described the ban as "distraction politics", adding: "Most schools already have this in place. I'm glad my grandchildren have mobile phones as, like many children in Bucks, they rely on buses to get to and from school.

"The buses are usually late and sometimes don't even turn up. At the very least, they need to reassure their families that they are safe."

Sam Samuel added: "They already are (banned) in most (schools). If they are used or seen by a teacher, they are taken away until the end of the day."

However, Linda Geddes expressed a different view, writing: "Long overdue", and Banford Lisa Jayne concurred, adding: "We didn't have mobiles years ago and coped fine".

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Vita Searle added: "Believe it or not, people can manage without them. Schools have landlines for emergency calls. Children having them can lead not only to distractions but (to) jealousy and bullying."

Countries including France and Italy already have bans on phones during school hours and, though the English ban will initially take the form of guidance from the DofE, Ms Keegan said the government would consider entering it into legislation should schools fail to implement it. 

The onus previously fell to headteachers at schools in England to instate a mobile phone ban throughout the school day, with the "backing" of school bodies by the DofE purportedly part of "wider work to raise standards in schools". 

Tom Bennett, a school behaviour advisor, praised it as a "fantastic move forward" which would result in students being "safer, happier and able to focus far more than they were before".

The Teachers' Union NASUWT hit back at the plans, however, with General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach accusing it of being a "blanket ban" that would "make the behaviour crisis worse, not better".

He said: "Teachers across the country would welcome more support around dealing with the problems caused by social media. But abusive use of mobile phones is not just confined to the classroom and we need to see better support for schools and families when problems arise."