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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Richard Adams Education editor

More than 90% of schools in England ban mobile phone use, survey shows

Young child with phone at school desk
In England, 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondaries have some form of phone ban. Photograph: True Images/Alamy

Almost all schools in England have banned mobile phone use by pupils, according to the first national survey conducted, as the leader of the largest teaching union called for a statutory ban owing to the “damaging impact” on young people.

The national survey, ordered by Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, showed that headteachers have swiftly instituted bans on smartphone use during school hours. The survey of more than 15,000 schools found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools have some form of ban.

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