‘I would crank up the restrictions’: teachers on banning phones in school

‘My lessons became much more manageable’: teachers on banning phones. Photograph: True Images/Alamy

A UN report has suggested smartphones should be banned in schools globally to protect children’s mental health and improve learning. In many schools, smartphones are not allowed to be used during lessons and should be turned off but can be used for emergencies.

Here, five teachers share their experiences on smartphone use in schools and how banning them affects teaching and learning.