Oxford residents blast UK wide mobile phone ban as ‘a pain’

The Government recently announced that it will make mobile phone bans in English schools statutory under new changes to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, turning existing non-statutory guidance into law.

Schools would be legally required to enforce the ban, although the majority already do so voluntarily.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We have been consistently clear that mobile phones have no place in schools, and the majority already prohibit them.

“This amendment makes existing guidance statutory, giving legal force to what schools are already doing in practice.”

On social media, the reaction has been mixed.

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Matthew Barber with students at Aureus Secondary School in Didcot at a meeting to discuss banning mobile phones in school (Image: Matthew Barber)

Andy Gardiner said: “General use of phones in school is a bad idea but specifically this is a pain, especially in science, when the kids can use phones as textbooks, reference sources, as timers, data loggers, audio sources and for motion capture, just as examples.

“Nope, science departments can’t afford to buy half this stuff as specialist equipment because budgets have been screwed down so tight but, just in case, we can ban kids from using theirs too.”

Phil Leighton supported the move, stating: “There’s bound to be some parents throwing their toys out of the pram over this but they are a distraction and not needed in school.

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“It’s about time.”

Others raised concerns about student safety and communication.

Tracey Matthews said: “I get it but don’t fully support it.

“My daughter let’s me know when she arrives safely at school then turns it off until after school when she rings to let me know she is on her way home”

Sherri Fox said: “Can’t even trust the teachers half the time.

“I’d like my child to have the option to call me, but I don’t think they should have them out of their pockets in lessons unless it’s an emergency situation.”

There was also debate about the educational value of mobile phones.

Rachel Ed said: “We should be teaching children how to use technology safely, and allowing them to benefit from it in their learning.

“The alternative is that schools provide class sets of devices with no social media apps to be used as learning tools.”

People have also been considering the negative impact of phones.

Logan Ramkin said: “Its been too long coming but a lot of kids disrupt classes and film it for likes, film bullying and a victim being assaulted for likes, and film teachers then use AI to post something about that teacher, and that’s actually been highlighted by teachers and the media.”

Patricia Grant added: “How’s that going to work then. their homework timetable, everything is on their phones.”