Phone ban, vape laws 'helping students focus'

The government says results show that reforms about phone usage and vaping are helping students. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

A ban on phones in public schools appears to be paying early dividends, with students increasingly focused and learning more, the education minister says.

Jason Clare - who spearheaded the ban at the beginning of 2024 - pointed to a NSW survey of almost 1000 school principals, which showed 87 per cent of students are less distracted in the classroom and 81 per cent experienced improved learning.