Tory mea culpa over school phones as they call for ban

The Conservative Party is calling for a ban on phones in schools after admitting guidance issued under former prime minister Rishi Sunak hasn't worked.

- MILLIE COOKE

The Tories are expected to push for MPs to be given a vote on banning the devices in schools this week by attempting to amend Labour’s Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to include the ban.

The previous Conservative government issued non-statutory guidance to schools in England intended to stop the use of mobile phones during break and lunch periods in schools, as well as in lessons.

But yesterday, shadow education secretary Laura Trott admitted the guidance “hasn’t worked”.

“Now it is time to make it law”, she said. “When I go into schools, headteachers are asking for this. When I go into schools which have these kinds of ban the pupils love it. They talk about how much safer it makes them feel.