Middle school pupils in France to hand in phones for entire day after success of trial

France is to tighten its ban on the use of mobile phones in middle schools, making 11- to 15-year-old pupils shut away their devices at the start of the day, and only giving access to them again as they are leaving.

- Angelique Chrisafis

The education minister told the senate she wanted children to be fully separated from their phones throughout the school day in all French middle schools from September.

Élisabeth Borne said: "At a time when the use of screens is being widely questioned because of its many harmful effects, this measure is essential for our children's wellbeing and success at school."

In 2018, France banned children from using mobile phones in all middle schools – known as collèges. Phones must remain switched off in schoolbags and cannot be used anywhere in the school grounds, including at break time.

Schools have reported a positive effect, with more social interaction, more physical exercise, less bullying and better concentration. But some did report a few children would sneak into the toilets to watch videos on phones at break.