'Parents could use trackers so pupils don't have to take smartphones to school,' says senior Tory

Total ban call over disruption

- By Steph Spyro and Amelie Jeeves

PARENTS could give their children tracking devices to monitor where they are instead of smartphones, a top Tory has suggested.

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott warned the dangers of phones in schools is now an "absolute crisis".

She has championed the Tories' calls for a total ban on the devices on school premises.

Ms Trott said parents who give their youngsters a smartphone so they know their whereabouts can instead use an Apple AirTag tracking device.

The mother-of-three told the Daily Express: "We know the damage that smartphones are doing in classrooms up and down the country. Only 11% of schools have a full smart-phone ban in place.

"And the Department for Education's own evidence showed that half of GCSE classes are being disrupted every single day. This is an absolute crisis. We need to fix it and the conse-

quences of not acting are very grave."